The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has disclosed that more than 1,900 suspected illegal miners have been arrested across major galamsey hotspots nationwide, as efforts intensify to combat illegal mining.
The arrests were carried out in six of Ghana’s 16 regions identified as key flashpoints, including Ashanti, Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, and parts of the northern enclaves.
Speaking in an interview with an Accra based television station on Friday, March 20, Media Relations Officer at the Ministry and spokesperson for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Paa Kwesi Schandorf, indicated that the Ashanti Region remains the epicentre of the galamsey menace due to its rich mineral deposits, which continue to attract large numbers of illegal miners.
He noted that the figure represents arrests recorded across the most affected areas, adding that authorities are maintaining pressure on illegal mining operations.
He, however, acknowledged that the fight against galamsey has not been without challenges, citing financial constraints as a major obstacle affecting the effectiveness and sustainability of NAIMOS operations.
