News
Fight against galamsey: 99 excavators retrieved, 208 suspects arrested so far
The Ghana Police Service, continues in its fight against illegal mining activities across the country from March 2025 to date, the Service has conducted series of anti-galamsey operations in various communities affected by illegal mining activities.
In a special anti-galamsey operations at Samreboi, along the Tano River, Wassa Dunkwa, Tigarikrom and surrounding communities in the Western Region, the Police has so far arrested fifty-eight (58) suspects comprising fifty (50) Ghanaians and eight (8) Chinese in connection with illegal mining activities and retrieved eighty-five (85) excavators and three (3) buldozers.
Similar anti-galamsey operations have been carried out by various Regional Police Commands across the regions as follows:
The Western Regional Police Command has arrested 19 suspects and retrieved three (3) escavators and three (3) pump action guns among other exhibits.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested seven (7) Ghanaian suspects and retrieved eleven (11) changfangs and three (3) motorbikes among other exhibits.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command Region has arrested twenty-four (24) suspects including one (1) Burkinabe and retrieved five (5) escavators, three (3)single barrel guns and one (1) pump action gun among other exhibits.
The Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested eighty- five (85) suspects comprising three (76) Ghanaians and nine (9) Chinese and also retrieved eleven (11) excavators and other exhibits.
The Eastern North Regional Police Command also arrested fifteen (15) suspects including one (1) Chinese and retrieved four (4) excavator control boards, nine (9) monitors and one (1) pistol among other exhibits.
In all, a total of 208 suspects have been arrested and 99 excavators, 3 bulldozers, 4 pump-action guns, 3 single-barrel guns, 1 pistol, 11 changfangs together with several other exhibits including vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles, generators, gold detectors and pumping machines have been received by the Police.
All the suspects are being taken through the due processes of the law.
The Ghana Police Service has assured the public of its commitment to fighting illegal mining and preserving the country’s natural resources.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
