The anti-galamsey force has confirmed the arrest of five persons in relation to illegal mining at Akwatia in the Eastern Region.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnite Wednesday, the leader of the Special Monitoring, Evacuation and Operation Team of Operation Vanguard, Nana Yaw Boadu confirmed the arrested persons were affiliated to the two biggest political parties.

Two of them are New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and three are the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) members, Mr Boadu, said.

He did not disclose the identities of the persons but added Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle are also on their radar in the fight against illegal mining.

He said logistics, including excavators, were seized from them and they would soon be sent to Accra.

He said 20 excavators were seized from the illegal miners but only 10 have been sent to the police station due to immobility of the others.

He had earlier said the operation took place at Apraman and the logistics moved to the police station there, but when quizzed further, said the operation took place at Akwatia in the Eastern Region.

Meanwhile, the search is still on for some reported missing excavators which have been seized from illegal miners.

Media reports put the figure at some 500 missing excavators but Local Government Minister and member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining, Alima Mahama said the number is 34.

Speaking to journalists outside the parliamentary chamber, she said the issue came about when an audit was commissioned relating to some seized excavators at a location in Tema.

The audit, she said revealed the excavators were missing. She said investigations into their disappearance is underway and the public would be informed once they are complete.

Galamsey, meanwhile, threatens water security of the country, experts say, with the Ghana Water Company Limited saying, they may have to ration water in some parts of the country should the menace continue.