13 galamsey operators arrested by Upper West Police

The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested 13 suspected illegal miners)around the Jirapa Municipal area of the Region in a fast operation based on a tipoff.

The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Edward Oduro-Kwarteng, confirmed the arrest of the galamsey operators on Thursday.

He said the suspected persons who were grabbed on Wednesday included 10 men and three women, totalling 13, and not 18 as quoted by other sources.

He added that the galamseyers had been placed in police custody and were being processed for the law court.

Activities of illegal miners in the region shot up in recent years and caused devastating damage to the environment including the pollution of water bodies and land vegetation, forcing officials to ban all forms of small-scale mining.

Following the ban, several attempts have been made by security agencies to monitor galamsey sites and ensure the protection of the environment.

Members of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey early this month also held series of town hall meetings in the region to highlight mass destruction caused to Ghana’s environment.

Many have described the arrest as a good step, but there have been suggestions that harsher punishments should be handed down to those found culpable.