*Galamseyers mining on the Black Volta arrested in wa west*
Seven individuals have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities, known as “galamsey,” along the Black Volta River at Chiantanga, a community near Dorimon in Ghana’s Wa West District. The suspects, identified as Sabugu Razak, Ibrahim Zuberu, Alex Amedzake, John Cobblah, Promise Dufe, Angelina Akpese, and Rebecca Tumawu, were apprehended on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during a targeted operation by the Upper West Regional Police Command.
The operation resulted in the retrieval of several items from the illegal mining site, including:
12 Changfang machines, 2 unregistered PNE and Apsonic tricycles,2 motorbikes with registration numbers M-AD NR 6010 and M-23-UW 4413, 2 unregistered Hague and Apsonic motorbikes,6 student mattresses
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nii Darko Offei Lomotey, emphasized the Command’s commitment to combating illegal mining, citing the importance of preserving the environment and protecting vital water sources like the Black Volta River. “The police will not relent in our efforts to rid the region of illegal mining activities that endanger the lives and livelihoods of our people,” DCOP Lomotey stated.
The suspects are currently in police custody, assisting with investigations, and are expected to be arraigned before court in the coming days. Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activities related to illegal mining to aid in the fight against environmental degradation ¹.
