In a renewed effort to combat illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, the Wassa Akropong District Police Command launched a large-scale operation in the Wassa-Dadieso enclave on the morning of May 28, 2025.
The operation, which began at approximately 8:00 AM, was led by Chief Superintendent William Jabialu, the Wassa Akropong Police Commander.
The enforcement team, made up of 5 senior officers and 73 police personnel, targeted illegal mining activities located roughly 500 meters off the Kumasi-Tarkwa highway—a zone long suspected of harboring unregulated mining operations.
Upon arrival at the site, police encountered severe challenges due to the muddy and unmotorable nature of the terrain. This hindered vehicular movement and allowed many miners to flee into nearby pits.
Despite the difficult conditions, the operation resulted in the arrest of six individuals engaged in illegal mining. Those arrested include:
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Eugene Mathew (20)
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Inusah Seidu (38)
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Jonathan Nyampong (27)
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Emmanuel Kakawe (19)
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Antwi Stephen (23)
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Gideon Lar (25)
In addition to the arrests, the police team successfully destroyed 135 chanfang machines, commonly used for illegal gold extraction, and confiscated a motorcycle believed to be used for operations on site.
The operation concluded by 11:00 AM without any injuries or confrontations reported.
Authorities view this as a successful and peaceful exercise aimed at sending a strong message to illegal miners and their financiers.
Law enforcement agencies say further operations are being planned to sustain pressure on illegal mining syndicates in the Western Region.
The police also urged local communities to support the government’s anti-galamsey campaign by providing timely intelligence and resisting the lure of illegal mining profits.
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