The Inspector-General of Police’s Special Anti-Galamsey Taskforce has seized seven excavators in a series of operations targeting illegal mining activities, galamsey, in Ahwiren, a small community in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The operation was launched at the request of the Chief of Ahwiren, Nana Osei Boateng, following reports that miners allegedly backed by influential figures in the area were operating dangerously close to St Joseph’s Senior and Technical High School and Ahwiren Methodist Primary and Junior High School.

An initial raid resulted in the confiscation of three excavators. However, the miners reportedly regrouped, bringing in fresh machinery to continue operations in the same location.

In a follow-up operation, led by DSP Karim Mahama and ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil, the task force seized an additional four excavators.

Although the miners managed to evade arrest, all seized machinery has been transported to the Regional Police Training School in Patasi, Kumasi, for safekeeping and further investigations.

This latest operation underscores growing concerns about illegal mining in Ghana’s communities, particularly in proximity to educational institutions.