Galamsey Fight: 13 Chinese Miners Arrested in Ashanti and Western Regions
As the fight continues against Galamsey, Thirteen (13) heavily armed Chinese nationals have been arrested in Ghana for illegal mining during operations by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in October 2026.
The arrests took place in two separate locations: Abusa in the Ashanti Region and in the Western Region. In the West region, NAIMOS also seized a pump-action gun with four cartridges and impounded two excavators used for mining along the Ankobrah River.
During the Abusa operation, individuals attempting to bribe operatives with GHC120,000 for the miners’ release were also detained.
Other recent crackdowns have also led to similar numbers of arrests. The Forestry Commission arrested 12 suspected illegal miners and impounded 3 excavators in the South Formangso Forest Reserve in September 2026, while 12 people were remanded after a raid at the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in August 2026.
