Some of the excavators
The Ghana Police Service, in special anti-galamsey operations at Samreboi, along the Tano River, Wassa Dunkwa, Tigarikrom, and surrounding communities in the Western Region, have arrested fifty-eight (58) suspects comprising fifty (50) Ghanaians and eight Chinese in connection with illegal mining activities, and retrieved eighty-five (85) excavators and three (3) bulldozers.
Similar anti-galamsey operations have been carried out by various Regional Police Commands across the following regions: The Western Regional Police Command has arrested 19 suspects and retrieved three (3) excavators and three (3) pump-action guns among other exhibits.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested seven (7) Ghanaian suspects and retrieved eleven (11) changfangs and three (3) motorbikes among other exhibits.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command Region has arrested twenty-four (24) suspects, including one (1) Burkinabe, and retrieved five (5) excavators, three (3) single-barrel guns, and one (1) pump action gun among other exhibits.
The Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested eighty-five (85) suspects, comprising seventy-six (76) Ghanaians and nine (9) Chinese, and also retrieved eleven (11) excavators and other exhibits.
The Eastern North Regional Police Command also arrested fifteen (15) suspects, including one (1) Chinese, and retrieved four (4) excavator control boards, nine (9) monitors, and one (1) pistol among other exhibits.
In all, a total of  two hundred and eight (208) suspects have been arrested and ninety-nine (99) excavators, three (3) bulldozers, four (4) pump-action guns, three (3) single-barrel guns, one (1) pistol, eleven (11) changfangs, together with several other exhibits, including vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles, generators, gold detectors, and pumping machines have been retrieved by the police.
According to the Police Service, all the suspects are being taken through the due process of the law, emphasising that the service will continue in its fight against illegal mining activities across the country, to preserve the country’s natural resources.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke