Galamsey: Alleged kingpin, 14 others arrested at site near school in Obuasi

Fifteen suspected illegal miners, including an alleged kingpin, were arrested during a joint security operation at an illegal mining site near Sanso Methodist School in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region. The operation also led to the seizure of three excavators. The operation was launched after a viral video surfaced on social media showing illegal mining activities taking place dangerously close to the school. The footage prompted the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, to direct security agencies to verify the claims and take immediate action.

A joint task force comprising National Security operatives, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), and the Ghana Armed Forces was deployed. Preliminary investigations revealed that the illegal miners had been operating at the site for nearly two weeks without detection. The suspects have been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra. The Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Rtd) John Jabari, confirmed the arrests and seizures on TV3. He added that the Ashanti Regional Minister has directed the Regional Reclamation Team to begin restoring the degraded land before pupils return to school, with reclamation works expected to begin on August 3.