The Central North Regional Police Command has dealt a significant blow to the illegal mining (galamsey) activities and associated illicit drug trade at Ayanfuri, leading to the apprehension of eight individuals.

This operation underscores the command's sustained, frontline efforts in the national battle against environmental degradation and organised crime.

Among those taken into custody were five Ghanaian nationals: Isaac Odum (39) and Lazarus Sango (44), who are suspected to be the site's primary operators, along with Stephen Nkrumah (30), Kofi Emmanuel (23), and John Nkrumah (27).

The joint operation also netted three Burkinabe nationals: Sulemana Naaba (36), Benjamin Adibanga (29), and Iddis Rogo (30), highlighting the transnational dimension of illegal mining in Ghana.

During the raid, law enforcement officers seized crucial equipment indicative of illicit mining activities, including five pumping machines, two rubber bowls filled with sand (likely gold-bearing ore), a gasoline generator, and a gallon of cyanide.

The presence of cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, is particularly alarming, as its unregulated use in galamsey operations poses severe threats to human health and the pollution of water bodies, a pervasive issue that has already rendered over 60% of Ghana's rivers unfit for consumption.

At a press conference following the arrests, DCOP Abraham Acquaye, the Central North Regional Police Commander, affirmed that all suspects are currently in police custody and will face arraignment in court for further legal action.

However, DCOP Acquaye highlighted a significant hurdle impeding the command's anti-galamsey efforts: the prolonged inactivity of the Assin Fosu District Court.

"The Central North Regional Command’s efforts to combat illegal mining are being hindered by the inactivity of the Assin Fosu District Court, which has been non-operational for over four months due to the judge’s indisposition," DCOP Acquaye disclosed.

This judicial bottleneck forces the police to grant bail to galamsey suspects, a frustrating outcome for officers striving to bring environmental offenders to justice.

Judicial delays in galamsey cases are a nationwide concern, with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Judicial Training Institute recently collaborating to expedite such trials, acknowledging the severe impact of slow justice on environmental protection and public trust.

Despite this challenge, DCOP Acquaye assured the public that the command remains unyielding in its commitment to cracking down on galamsey in the area.

Reinforcing this resolve, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has deployed a contingent of over 60 additional personnel from the National Headquarters to bolster the Central North Regional Command's capacity in combating the pervasive menace of illegal mining.

DCOP Acquaye concluded by appealing to the public for their crucial support, urging them to provide timely intelligence that can aid law enforcement in clamping down on galamsey and other related criminal activities, including the burgeoning issue of drug trafficking, often intertwined with illegal mining operations.

The collaboration between the police and citizens remains vital in protecting Ghana's natural resources and upholding the rule of law.