#The Ghana Police Service has arrested nine individuals for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities at Akatakyieso in the Adansi North District. The arrests come amid controversy surrounding National Security’s presence in the area, with some accusing them of taking over a licensed mine and employing armed individuals to conduct unauthorized mining.
Background of the Controversy.
The controversy centers around conflicting accounts of National Security’s activities at three distinct sites within the Akatakyieso enclave. Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor accused National Security operatives of seizing a licensed underground small-scale mine, displacing workers, and employing armed individuals to mine the facility.
National Security’s Response.
Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Rtd.) John Kwame Jabari, has refuted these allegations, stating that National Security personnel were deployed to the area as part of a routine anti-illegal mining operation. He claimed that several Chinese nationals were briefly detained but released after their work permits were verified. Captain Jabari emphasized that the site in question had been operating legally and was recently commended by a government mining committee .
Investigation Ongoing
The Ghana Police Service’s arrest of nine individuals for illegal mining activities at Akatakyieso suggests that investigations into the matter are ongoing. However, the exact circumstances surrounding National Security’s involvement remain unclear, with conflicting statements from security officials contributing to the controversy. Alexander Afriyie