The Police in the Bono Region have detained eight suspected illegal miners following a community-led operation at Amomaso in the Berekum West District, as the fight against illegal mining intensifies across the country.
The suspects were arrested after residents of the Amomaso community reportedly apprehended them while they were engaged in illegal mining activities within the Amomaso Forest Reserve.
A statement issued by the Police and signed by Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, commended the community for its cooperation in helping to stem illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on May 20, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., after a distress call was received indicating that some youth in the area had intercepted the illegal miners.
Police personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they found the suspects already detained by residents. The officers subsequently took over the case and retrieved exhibits including a pickaxe, four shovels, a water pumping machine, and other items believed to have been used in the illegal activity.
The suspects, identified as Atule Nathaniel, 23; Azusiwine Cletus, 22; Ayaama Thomas, 15; Asigiya Joseph, 23; Aboyinga Aselise, 37; Atanbire Reymond, 20; Isaac Ntim, 46; and Aguya Isaac, 25, are currently in police custody and assisting investigations.
The Police have since urged the public to continue providing timely information on suspected illegal mining activities to support ongoing efforts to protect forest reserves and water bodies from destruction.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental and security concern in Ghana, with authorities intensifying operations and community collaborations to curb the practice, which has led to widespread degradation of land and pollution of rivers in several regions.
The arrested suspects are expected to be processed for prosecution after investigations are completed.
