Police destroy illegal mining equipment in Eastern Region raid  

The police in Eastern Region have destroyed 10 illegal mining machines and arrested one suspect following a raid on an unauthorized gold mining site along the Bosuso stream in the Fanteakwa South District.  

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agyare Okyere, the Eastern Regional Operations Commander, told the Ghana News Agency that the operation was carried out by the Regional Operations Department following a tip-off from a resident.  

The resident had reported illegal mining activities polluting the Bosuso stream, a vital water source for the community.  

According to him, the informant was on his way to his farm near Terpoursi when he heard the loud sound of mining machines around Kpeterfi, a suburb of Bosuso.  

“I heard the sound of machines near a cocoa farm and decided to check. When I got closer, I saw about 10 machines operating with impunity. I quickly recorded a short video before they noticed my presence and fled,” the resident recounted in a video footage.   

ASP Okyere narrated that the footage was shared with a friend who contacted the police and officers responded swiftly, arriving at the site to find extensive environmental damage and abandoned mining equipment.   

The miners had fled the scene, but one suspect, identified as 46-year-old Abloni Frank, was apprehended and handed over to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further questioning.  

“All 10 changfang machines and other equipment used in the illegal operation were set ablaze,” ASP Okyere, said.  

Residents have long expressed concern over the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which they say threatens water sources, farmlands, and livelihoods.   

The Bosuso stream is a key water source for the community. “We commend the police for their swift intervention,” one resident said. “But we need sustained efforts to stop these miners from returning.”  

ASP Okyere urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement saying “Without the tip-off, we wouldn’t have known what was going on. We encourage residents to always inform us so we can work together to curb illegal mining.”   

Bosuso, a farming community known for cocoa, oil palm, rice, and sugarcane cultivation, has seen a surge in illegal mining in recent years.   

The area also holds potential for eco-tourism, which residents fear could be undermined by environmental destruction.  

On the Bonkame road, a licensed small-scale miner known as Flamina, who operates with a permit from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, was recently ordered by the EPA to suspend operations over improper mining practices.  

However, some residents alleged that illegal mining continued at night on the same concession.  

A teacher, who requested anonymity but lives along the stretch where the illegal miners pass, told the GNA that their activities often caused sleepless nights for residents due to the constant noise from the machines.  

“Every now and then, we hear the sound of machines and see familiar faces in town involved in the act. It’s disturbing,” he said.  

The Eastern Regional Police Command has since intensified surveillance in the Fanteakwa South area and assured the public of its commitment to fighting illegal mining, protecting the environment, and safeguarding lives and property.  

Source: GNA   

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