The Western Central Regional Police Command has apprehended eleven individuals for engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) operations along the banks of the Bonsa River in Ghana’s Western Region.
The suspects—seven Ghanaians and four Chinese nationals—were captured on March 31, 2025, during a series of intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks threatening the region’s environment and water bodies.
Among those arrested at the Bonsa mining site were Wei Qinwei, Yao Yongji, Nsoh Oto, Agologo, Kwadwo George, Sergio, Emmanuel Van, and Atta Meanwhile, Nuang Shichuan, Huang Xinbao, Douglas Ayambilla, Elvis Aborta, Michael Tettey Komlorm, and Ibrahim Dauda were apprehended at a separate site in Wassa Agona.
Authorities confirmed that all eleven suspects are in police custody and will be arraigned before the court to face legal action.
In a statement, the Ghana Police Service reiterated its commitment to combating illegal mining and ensuring law and order across the country.
“We would like to assure the general public, particularly communities within the Western Central Regional Police Command, that the Ghana Police Service remains resolute in its fight against crime. We will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour to protect our nation’s resources and uphold security,” the statement read.
Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has been a pressing national concern due to its devastating effects on the environment, particularly rivers and farmlands. The government and security agencies have ramped up efforts to crack down on these operations, which often involve foreign nationals collaborating with local miners.
This latest operation adds to the growing list of crackdowns in the Western Region, a hotbed for galamsey activities, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the menace and restore affected water bodies, including the heavily polluted Bonsa River.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
