Scene from Apinto Community Mining confrontation
Disgruntled youth involved in small-scale mining at the Apinto Community Mining Scheme site in Tarkwa have confronted Ghana Police Service personnel over what they term “unjust” arrests of their members.
A viral video shows the miners in a heated confrontation with police officers, accusing them of extortion and claiming they’ve been mistaken for engaging in illegal mining activities.
The incident followed the arrest of key persons, including a ‘commander’ and a Chinese national, on July 30, 2025, over alleged involvement in illegal mining.
While the Ghana Police Service has yet to comment, they’ve announced intensified operations at various mining sites nationwide, following the Inspector General of Police’s commitment to eradicate the galamsey menace.
This led to the launch of special anti-galamsey operations in the Western Region, resulting in the arrest of 58 suspects (50 Ghanaians and 8 Chinese) and retrieval of 85 excavators and 3 bulldozers. Similar operations have been carried out by Regional Police Commands in the country.
The Western Regional Police Command has arrested 19 suspects and retrieved three (3) escavators 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 three (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.
n all, a total of 208 suspects have been arrested and 99 excavators, 3 bulldozers, 4 pump-action guns, 3 single-barrel guns, 1 pistol, 11 changfangs together with several other exhibits including vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles, generators, gold detectors and pumping machines have been received by the Police.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke