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The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested seven individuals and confiscated a range of mining equipment and unregistered vehicles during a recent operation targeting illegal mining activities near Dorimon in the Wa West District.
The enforcement action, conducted on Thursday, April 10, focused on illegal mining sites along the Black Volta River in Chiantanga — a community that has seen growing environmental degradation due to unregulated small-scale mining.
In a press statement signed by DCOP Nii Danto Offei Lomotey, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, the arrested individuals were identified as Sabugu Razak, Ibrahim Zuberu, Alex Amedzake, John Cobblah, Promise Dufe, Angelina Akpese, and Rebecca Tumawu.
According to the statement, police officers retrieved ten Changfang machines — commonly used for alluvial gold mining — as well as several unregistered vehicles, including two tricycles (PNE and Apsonic models), a Haojue motorbike, and another Apsonic motorbike. Two additional motorcycles with registration numbers M-24-NR 6010 and M-23-UW 4413 were also seized.
Investigators also found six student mattresses at the site, indicating that the suspects may have been residing at the location while engaging in the illegal mining operations.
The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations. Authorities say they will be formally charged and brought before court in the coming days.
“The Regional Police Command reiterates its commitment to cracking down on illegal mining activities in the region,” the statement declared.
Illegal mining has become a pressing issue in parts of Ghana, causing widespread damage to the environment and putting pressure on vital resources. The Black Volta River, an essential water source for many communities in the Upper West Region, continues to suffer from pollution and ecological damage due to such unauthorized operations.
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