Police arrest illegal miners at a site under National Security protection in Adansi North District

Nine people were arrested in a police raid at Akatakyieso. This is located in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region. They are accused of illegal mining at a site protected by national security.

Security operatives had taken control of the site. It was allegedly being mined illegally by local youth. Earlier reports suggested that national security was involved in mining activities there, which is now under investigation.

The police conducted the raid based on intelligence about illegal mining. They fired warning shots to disperse those working at the site.

Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, Deputy Regional Police Commander for Ashanti South, confirmed some individuals were mining there. However, he could not confirm if they were national security operatives. He stated that investigations have begun.

Arthur mentioned that some people were indeed mining in the area under protection. An investigative body has been assigned to gather facts about this situation.

The mine operates differently from alluvial small-scale mining. It involves rock mining, where deep holes are dug for gold extraction using simple tools.

Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, Ashanti Regional Security Liaison, explained why security took over the site. The miners lacked necessary licenses and used illicit drugs, raising concerns about safety and crime rates.

Police investigations continue to explore any alleged involvement of national security in these operations.

Michael Owusu, a stakeholder in the mine, claims national security is involved. An investigative team has visited and gathered information from various stakeholders.

The Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining also faces scrutiny. National security previously certified their documents and those of foreign workers employed there.

Operations at the mine have resumed since then. However, investigators raised concerns about the authenticity of their documentation.

Owusu refuted allegations against them and challenged security operatives to prove any documents are fake. He stated they have been certified by relevant authorities like the EPA and Minerals Commission.

Sources from JoyNews indicate that an 18-member committee on mining found all documents for Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining intact. At another community site, only the operational permit is missing among secured documents.

Meanwhile, investigators remain concerned about how operations are conducted at Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining.