The Bono Regional Security Taskforce on illegal mining has arrested Kingsley Acheampong, 27, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining at Sadik-Akuraa, near Banda Ahenkro in the Banda District of the Region.

Headed by the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene, the task force further burnt some seized mining equipment and handed the suspects over to the police.

Some other suspected illegal miners at the same site upon sighting the task force absconded.

Mr Acheampong was caught when after his colleagues run and left him in one of the mining pits.

During interrogation by the task force, Mr Acheampong said he is married with two children and asked for leniency. He said illegal mining was his only source of income.

The Bono Regional Minister said the task force will not renege in trying to shorten the unscrupulous activities of the illegal miners as they blatantly disregarded the presidential directive on illegal mining.

Mrs Owusu-Banahene urged the police and the judiciary to facilitate prosecution of suspects to serve as a deterrent to other recalcitrant illegal miners within the Bono region.

She added, “the fight against illicit drugs, illegal mining and lumbering cannot be successful without the two institutions”.

She directed the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDA’s) in the region to effectively collaborate with chiefs and all other stakeholders to map out strategies to disintegrate illegal miners.

The Bono Regional Minister also encouraged the task force and other security agencies to maintain momentum in the fight against illegal mining and other illegalities that are destroying the environment and natural vegetation.