Seven illegal miners have been arrested at a mining site which recently collapsed and killed about seventeen miners at Kyekyewere in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central region. The seven were part of about 280 illegal miners scavenging for gold using boats and other sophisticated equipment. They had ignored the warnings of the police and authorities at Dunkwa Kyekyewere not to undertake illegal mining activities at the abandoned pit. 17 illegal miners died after the pit caved in on them in April. Five other persons were rescued by a combined team of personnel from the Police, Immigration and Fire Services as well as the National Disaster Management Organization, (NADMO). Inspector Adu Gyamfi of the Upper Denkyira East police service said they will be arraigning them before court on Friday. He also bemoaned the lack of personnel to tackle the growing incidence of mining activities at the mining restricted site. Meanwhile the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Danaa has dismissed suggestions that efforts to flush out galamsey operators would not work unless chiefs who directly benefit from these activities are exempted from prosecution. Kofi Boateng, a small scale miner at a forum in Kumasi had said the exemption of such Chiefs was the root cause of the galamsey menace. But speaking to Joy News, Dr. Danaa said the claim was false, and anybody with information about chiefs involved in galamsey should report the case to the police for his arrest.