The Amansie West District Security Council (DISEC) has arrested 21 foreign nationals, all identified as Burkinabes, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities on river bodies at Esaase Bontefufuo in the Ashanti Region.
The arrests were made during a special intelligence-led operation conducted by the District Police Command and the Formed Police Unit (FPU) under the command of ASP Solomon Adusei Berko.
According to ASP Berko, the operation targeted areas that had reported severe environmental destruction and water pollution linked to illegal mining.
“We moved in swiftly upon receiving credible information and arrested the twenty-one Burkinabes actively engaged in mining operations on the water bodies,” he said.
He added that several mining tools and equipment were seized during the raid.
ASP Berko disclosed that the illegal operations had caused extensive damage to vegetation and farmlands, as well as contamination of water bodies that serve as vital drinking water sources for nearby communities. He assured that security forces would maintain a strong presence in the area to deter further illegal mining.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie West and Chairman of DISEC, Prince Manu Morris, commended the police for their swift action and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to combating illegal mining in the district.
“We cannot allow the destruction of our environment and water bodies to continue. Whether local or foreign, anyone found engaging in these acts will face the full rigours of the law,” Mr. Morris stated.
He said DISEC would intensify surveillance in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and the Ghana Immigration Service to clamp down on illegal miners.
The DCE further appealed to residents to support law enforcement efforts by reporting suspicious activities in their communities, emphasizing that collective vigilance was key to protecting the district’s natural resources.
 has arrested 21 foreign nationals, all identified as Burkinabes, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities on river bodies at Esaase Bontefufuo in the Ashanti Region.){kind=link}