Michael Kwadwo PeprahPresident of the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, has been released following his arrest by members of an anti-illegal mining taskforce under the Ghana Police Service during an operation at Subriso Fante in the Ahafo Ano North District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, July 10, has stirred debate within mining communities, as Peprah claims he was arrested not for any criminal wrongdoing, but for challenging the legitimacy of the taskforce’s operation.
According to Peprah, he approached the team to verify whether the exercise was an officially sanctioned operation. He cited numerous reports of imposters posing as law enforcement officers to harass legal miners and seize their equipment.
“I was merely trying to verify their authenticity,” Peprah explained, adding that the response from the taskforce was swift and aggressive. He said he was accused of interfering in their duties and was subsequently apprehended.
Though no formal charges were brought against him, the arrest has raised fresh concerns over how state-sanctioned operations are being carried out in mining areas and the potential for abuse under the guise of enforcement.
Taking to Facebook shortly after his release, Peprah provided further details of the arrest, reiterating his belief that the state must move away from what he described as “brute force tactics” in dealing with illegal mining. He called on the government to pursue long-term, sustainable strategies that promote responsible mining rather than relying on militarized crackdowns.
“We’ve seen too many cases of taskforces acting without proper oversight or legal backing. These actions only worsen tensions on the ground,” he warned.
The arrest of the outspoken miners’ advocate is expected to intensify ongoing discussions around the government’s fight against illegal mining (galamsey), especially regarding the use of force and the accountability of taskforce members.
Observers say Peprah’s encounter is likely to renew calls for transparency and due process in anti-galamsey operations, particularly in regions where small-scale mining is a major livelihood.
