In a renewed and intensified effort to clamp down on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana, a large-scale security operation in the Western Region has resulted in the arrest of 56 individuals and the destruction of 25 changfang machines used in unauthorized gold extraction. The operation, spearheaded by a joint security task force, was conducted on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The Western Regional Security Council, in collaboration with security personnel from the Western Naval Command, the Second Infantry Battalion, and the Ghana Police Service, launched the crackdown in known illegal mining hotspots. These locations included six farms belonging to the Ghana Rubber Estate Company Ltd, North Palm Oil Plantation, Kadadwen, and several parts of the Mpohor District. This initiative is part of the government’s intensified campaign to combat galamsey, which has had severe environmental and socio-economic repercussions across the country.
During the operation, security forces set ablaze 25 changfang machines, which are widely used by illegal miners to wash and trap gold. Additionally, the task force confiscated various mining equipment, including three motorbikes, nine pumping machines, three excavators, and three pay-loaders, from different unauthorized mining sites in the Ahanta West Municipality and Mpohor District.
Brigadier General Musah Whajah (rtd), the Liaison Officer of National Security who led the mission, reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining and ensuring stricter enforcement of mining regulations.
“We made some arrests during today’s operation. This time, we’re taking a different approach. The suspects will be screened by the police, and those found culpable will be put before the court,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of legal action as a deterrent against galamsey activities.
The 56 individuals apprehended, comprising 47 men and nine women from Kadadwen, have been handed over to the Western Regional Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In a separate but related operation, a Rapid Response Team from the Tarkwa and Takoradi Forest Districts of the Forestry Commission arrested eight additional illegal miners within the Subri Forest Reserve on March 12, 2025. Authorities seized seven motorcycles and three tricycles during this raid, and the suspects were subsequently transferred to the police for further legal processing.
Illegal mining remains a significant challenge in Ghana, with its destructive effects evident in widespread deforestation, pollution of major water bodies, and degradation of farmlands. Despite the government’s continuous interventions, including the deployment of security forces and the implementation of stricter mining regulations, galamsey activities persist in many parts of the country, raising concerns about environmental sustainability and the long-term impact on local communities.
According to the report from 3 News