Eight minors, one adult arrested at galamsey site 

Eight teenagers were on Wednesday arrested by the Operation Vanguard taskforce at a galamsey site at K9 in the Mpohor District of the Western Region.

The minors, aged between 15 and 17, were arrested alongside a 29-year old adult, Seth Adjei Boahen during a dawn operation by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) to clamp down on illegal mining in the community.

Squadron Leader Robinson Omane Agyei, the Public Relation Officer of Operation Vanguard, said Seth Boahen had been sent to the Mpohor District Police Station to assist with investigations, while the minors were sent to the Social Welfare Department, pending further investigations.

The team seized two excavators with chassis numbers, 5LROO587 and 5YOO732 and handed them over to the Mpoho District Assembly.

The personnel further immobilised three excavators, three control boards and monitor, motor bikes and nine water pumping machines among other things.

The seized items were handed over to the Mpohor District Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Squadron leader Agyei said the use of minors in the illegal mining activities was worrying and was against the labour laws of Ghana.  

He pleaded with all well-meaning Ghanaians to endeavour to volunteer information of those illegal miners to help sanitise the environment.