The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said it will not shield two of its personnel arrested in connection with an attempted armed robbery at a gold mining site in the country’s Western Region.
The soldiers were detained on Sunday, September 28, along with two civilian accomplices, after allegedly attempting to rob LongShine Mining Company Limited, a Chinese-owned operation based in Prestea-Obouhu, according to local police.
The suspects, two of whom were reportedly dressed in military uniforms, arrived at the site in a pickup truck before being intercepted by officers from the Prestea Police Command. The other two individuals wore masks, according to a statement by the company’s public relations officer, Zion Rootman.
In an official response, the GAF said the institution would cooperate fully with law enforcement and would not intervene to protect the soldiers from prosecution.
“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that it will not shield the personnel involved in criminal activities,” said Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations for the GAF.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding charges or court proceedings.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about illegal mining, or “galamsey,” and its intersection with organized crime and security personnel in Ghana’s resource-rich regions.
