The Ghana Police Service has arrested 16 suspects during an anti-illegal mining operation at Essuminya and Apraprama Forest Reserves in the Ashanti Region.
The suspects are Kwesi Frimpong, 52, Samuel Okyere, 44, Jackson Nana Boafo, 32, Saddick Abubakar, 44, Collins Asare, 35, Joshua Ofori, 25, Emmanuel Akwesi 42, Augustine Mensah 38, and Stephen Amoako 25.
The rest are Vincent Ofori, 30, Andrews Oppong 31, Nyaba Atonkoni 31, Stephen Kwabena Owusu 41, George Badji 28, Dorgumu Fredrick 24, and Cheke Chen 35, a foreign national.
The joint operation, conducted on June 19, involved personnel from the National Police Headquarters and the Manso Adubia District, a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency said on Monday.
The operation was to clamp down on illegal mining activities within the forest reserves, it said.
“During the operation, sixteen suspects were arrested while actively engaging in illegal mining activities,” the release said.
Exhibits retrieved included two pump-action guns, pumping machines, four excavator machine monitors and eight live BB cartridges.
Efforts were underway to move the excavators from the forest to the police station, it said.
“The suspects are all in police custody assisting investigations and will be put before the court.”
