The Ghana Police Service has deepened its crackdown on illegal mining through targeted, intelligence-led operations in the Western Region, resulting in the arrest of 23 suspects and the disabling and retrieval of various mining equipment.

In the Wassa Akropong District, police arrested twenty-three (23) suspects during operations along the Wassa Akropong–Japa–Dadieso road. The team also extended operations to the Obeng Mining Group site at Wassa Japa, where sixty-four (64) changfan machines were disabled.

At Wassa Dominase, officers responded to intelligence on illegal mining near the Goil and Energy Oil filling stations along the Agona Amenfi–Gyedua Kesse Junction road. Seven (7) changfan machines and washing boards were disabled. Three (3) water pumping machines and one (1) pickaxe were retrieved.

In a separate operation in Asankrangwa, police acted on information about illegal mining near the 1D1F building along the Asankra Saah–Asankra Kwabeng road, retrieving three (3) water pumping machines and four (4) motorbikes.

All suspects are in custody assisting with ongoing investigations.

The government has been urged to take urgent steps toward providing a safe and supportive environment for menstruating girls to ensure proper personal hygiene and promote school attendance.

Sarah Nkansah Boateng, a midwife at the Eastern Regional Hospital made the call during a forum organised as part of activities to observe Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration in the New Juaben North Municipality of the East­ern Region.

The event was held under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

She noted that many girls skip school during their menstrual periods due to a lack of access to sanitary products and appropriate spaces to change them.

“The basic necessities for these girls are not being provided; creating a safe and enabling environment is cru­cial,” Madam Boateng emphasized.

She called on school authorities and policymakers to prioritise the construction of hygienic and private changing spaces in schools.

She further appealed for a col­lective effort to address menstrual health challenges affecting girls in the community.

The New Juaben North Municipal Director of Health Services, Nana Yaa Konadu, also highlighted her office’s initiatives in both school-based and community clinics to educate young girls on menstrual hygiene.

She stressed the health implications of poor menstrual hygiene, saying, “When girls lack access to sanitary pads and a clean environment, it can negatively impact their reproductive health.”

Madam Konadu warned that the ab­sence of menstrual hygiene facilities and products left some girls vulnera­ble to exploitation, increasing the risk of teenage pregnancy.

The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Mr Samuel Adongo, described menstruation as a natural biological process and not a taboo or burden.

He expressed concern over the poor state of sanitation facilities in schools.

“I have visited almost all public schools in the municipality, and none has a proper, standard toilet facility suitable for girls,” he stated.

Mr Adongo assured that the assem­bly would work to create an enabling environment to reduce school absen­teeism related to menstruation.

“Too many girls are missing school because of their menstrual cycle, and this is unacceptable,” he added.

 From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua