The Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force, established by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has impounded two excavators in the Ashanti Region as part of ongoing operations against illegal mining.
Led by ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil, the 37-member team carried out an operation at Dwendwenase, a suburb of Juaso in the Asante Akim South Municipality, following credible intelligence. With six service vehicles, the task force moved into sections of the Dwendwenase Forest Reserve, where illegal mining activities reportedly involving foreign nationals believed to be Chinese were taking place.
Upon arrival, the suspects fled, abandoning two excavators. One machine was successfully recovered and transported on a low-bed carrier, while the second, which had developed a fault, could not be moved.
Later, while returning to their Patase base, the task force received further intelligence about another excavator hidden in a cocoa farm at Atta Ne Atta, a nearby village. The machine had been deliberately disabled by its operator to prevent seizure but was eventually restarted and secured.
Both excavators are currently being held at the Patase base pending investigations and possible legal action.
The task force has since appealed to the public, community leaders, and residents of mining areasto support the fight against illegal mining, which continues to pose a severe threat to Ghana’s environment and water resources.
