The Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awurbe (Esq.), has led a security operation in collaboration with the Regional Police Command to dismantle illegal mining activities in Tuntumba, a community in the Bole District.

The operation, carried out on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, resulted in the seizure of eight excavators and the demolition of over 100 makeshift structures believed to be used as shelters and storage by illegal miners.

Addressing the media after the exercise, Mr Be-Awurbe reaffirmed the government’s uncompromising stance against illegal mining and warned that individuals found operating without valid licenses would be prosecuted.

He disclosed that several illegal miners, including some foreign nationals, fled the scene upon the arrival of security personnel, abandoning their equipment and other belongings.

The Regional Minister also noted that law enforcement is prioritising the identification and prosecution of the financiers behind these operations, particularly those deploying heavy-duty equipment and contributing to the pollution of key water bodies such as the Black and White Volta Rivers.

He further called on the Minerals Commission to expedite the allocation of legal concessions to organised mining groups.

This, he explained, would help reduce illegal activities and promote responsible small-scale mining in the region.