The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested a man identified as Elder David Bobie Peter for operating an illegal mining site at Akyem Morso near Juaso in the Asante Akyem South District of the Ashanti Region.
According to NAIMOS, the suspect, who claims to be an elder of The Church of Pentecost at Konongo, was apprehended during a targeted operation along the Kume River spanning Morso, Kyekyebiase and Bimma.
The operation saw task force members storm a sprawling galamsey enclave at Kyekyebiase, where several individuals fled into nearby bushes upon sighting the team, abandoning equipment in the process.
Although no arrests were made during the initial raid, the task force destroyed eight chanfang machines, four wooden washing platforms and several hoses, while seizing twelve water pumping machines.
A subsequent sweep led to the discovery of a concealed excavator hidden in a cocoa farm, which was rendered inoperable.
NAIMOS says the suspect initially claimed he was visiting his farm, but intelligence gathered at the scene identified him as a foreman of one of the illegal mining sites.
“Confronted with this intelligence, the suspect eventually admitted he was the foreman and had been sent by his boss to verify the presence of the task force,” the Secretariat stated.
He later led officers to another mining site at Morso, where extensive environmental damage was observed, including pollution and diversion of the Kume River. A second excavator at the site was also disabled.
The suspect has since been handed over to the Konongo District Police for further investigations and possible prosecution.
NAIMOS has cautioned that the fight against illegal mining will be pursued “irrespective of social standing, religious office or political affiliation,” urging stronger collaboration among stakeholders to curb environmental destruction.
