2 Chinese in police grips for 'galamsey', 8 others including 2 Ghanaians on the run
- Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the Western Region for their involvement in galamsey
- The Chinese illegal miners had stationed their machines on the river and were mining
- Eight other members of the group with two Ghanaians inclusive fled the scene
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News reaching YEN.com.gh indicates that two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the Western Region for illegal small-scale mining.
The two Chinese illegal miners were arrested at their rented residence at Ateiku in the Western Region.
The miners, who were protected by armed guards, were operating at a site in Patatwumso.
The arrest was made by the Wassa East District Security Council and the Ghana Police Service.
The operation is reported to have been executed along the Pra River in fulfilment of the President’s directive to end the menace in water bodies.
In a report filed by GBCGhanaonline, upon seeing the security personnel, eight other members of the group; six Chinese and two Ghanaians fled the scene.
When the team got to the site, the Chinese illegal miners had stationed their machines on the river and were mining.
The two suspects were subsequently arrested and marched to the District Police Command to assist the police in further investigations.
The mining equipment which was being used for the illegal activity found on-site was also seized.
The Police have since mounted a search for the remaining eight who are currently on the run.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo gave an order for the deployment of soldiers to mining areas to clamp down on activities by illegal miners.
The soldiers, numbering 200 have been poled together to undertake this operation which started on Wednesday morning, April 28, 2021, at 6 am.
The deployed soldiers are expected to remove all those engaging in the illegal act and also destroy the logistics involved in mining from Ghana’s water bodies.
The operation started on River Pra in the Central and Western regions.
In a related development, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has stated that the government will soon roll out a sustainable programme on the deployment of soldiers to areas where illegal mining in water bodies is rife.
This according to him will be a trusted roadmap in ensuring that these people engaging in the illegal act are flushed out and dealt with.
Oppong Nkrumah also added that this measure is meant to help the government deal with illegal mining issues conclusively.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
