The two suspected illegal miners at the police station
THE MANKRANSO District Police, in the Ashanti Region, has arrested two illegal miners, also known as ‘galamseyers’, and are pursuing scores of other suspects, who are currently on the run.
The caged suspects have been identified by the police as Sarfo Marfo, 58, and Stephen Manu, 19. The police also retrieved three pumping machines from the mining site during the operation.
The two suspects were among a group of daring miners, who threw caution to the wind as they openly mined for the precious metal right on the shoulder of the Kumasi to Sunyani highway, which is a busy road.
Their illegal activities, which were being done in the open, reportedly, caught the attention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who instantly instructed the police to apprehend them to face the law.
Acting on the minister’s directive, the police on December 29, 2025, stormed Dwenewoho, located on the Kumasi-Sunyani highway to arrest the suspects, but they (suspects) took to their heels upon seeing the security agents.
“Following the information received from Regional Minister through DCE Hon. Yamba Ibrahim Issaka Nelson of Ahafo-Ano South East District Assembly, on 29/12/2025 at 10:00 hours about illegal mining going on at Dwenewoho roadside of the Kumasi-Sunyani motor road, the Mankranso District Command together with 15 men accompanied by DCE Hon. Yamba Ibrahim Issaka Nelson, embarked on an exercise to arrest the said illegal miners at Dwenewoho.
“The Team returned with report that the illegal miners on seeing the police took to their heels, but the team managed to arrest two (2) suspects, Sarfo Marfo, aged 58, and Stephen Manu, aged 19, with 3 pumping machines that were removed from the site,” Mankranso District Police report said.
According to the police, the two suspects would be processed for court as efforts were also being made to apprehend the other illegal miners who managed to flee from the site during the police operation.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi