News
Police War On Galamsey:49 suspects arrested at various locations across the country
The Ghana Police Service has intensified the fight against illegal mining through a series of intelligence-led operations and has arrested forty-nine (49) individuals for engaging in illegal mining activities at various locations across the country.
The operations were carried out at Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso and Wassa-Gyapa in the Western Region; Akrokerri in the Ashanti Region; Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso in the Central Region; and the Awin river at Pankese and Akyem Akwadum in the Eastern Region.
These coordinated operations resulted in the retrieval of exhibits, including various mining equipment.
At Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa, the Western Central Regional Police Command arrested 19 suspects, disabled over 135 chanfan machines and retrieved exhibits including 23 Water Pumping Machines, 4 Excavator batteries and a motorbike.
At Akrokerri, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command arrested 9 suspects.
In the Awin River at Pankese and at Akyem Akwadum, the Eastern South Regional Police Command arrested eleven (11) suspects and retrieved 1 excavator monitor, two (2) excavators pedals, seven (7) excavator control boards and one gold detecting device.
At Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso, the Central North Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects and retrieved four (4) excavators, 8 pumping machines and 1 Cylinder machine.
All suspects are in Police custody assisting ongoing investigations.
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.
