Nine people have been arrested in a police raid at Akatakyieso in the Adansi North District of Ashanti Region over alleged illegal mining at a site under the protection of national security operatives.
The security operatives took over the site alleged to be mined illegally and dangerously by some youth in the community.
Earlier media reports suggested national security took over mining activities at the site, a claim that is being investigated.
The police raid at Akatakyieso was prompted by intelligence pointing to illegal mining activities in the area.
According to the police, they fired warning shots to get the people working at the site to yield.
Deputy Regional Police Commander for Ashanti South, Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, confirms that some persons were mining in the area put under national security protection, but the police are unable to confirm their identity.
“For the time being, we cannot say they are national security operatives; we have now commenced investigations,” he said.
The Deputy Commander indicated, “To the best of our knowledge which is subject to further investigation, some were mining.”
An investigative body tasked to look into the issue has gone on a fact-finding mission to the site.
Unlike the alluvial small-scale mining that involves excavators, this mine does rock mining, where deep holes are dug into the belly of the earth in search of gold.
Under this system, simple tools are used to excavate rocks containing gold for processing.
According to the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison, Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, the security operatives seized the site due to the mode of operation.
“They don’t have all the requisite license to operate here. What sparked our interest is the use of illicit drugs and the crime rate here. Their mode of operation, the hazard towards them as miners, got our interest,” he said.
Police investigations are yet to unravel the national security’s alleged involvement in the mining operations in the area.
But a stakeholder in the mine, Michael Owusu, insists on their involvement.
An investigative team looking into the matter has visited the area and gathered necessary information from stakeholders.
The Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining is also in contention. The national security operatives earlier visited the area and certified their certificates and those of foreigners employed there.
The mine has since resumed operations.
But the investigators who went to the site as part of investigations raised concerns over the authenticity of the documentation.
Mr. Owusu who doubles as owner of the site has refuted the allegations, challenging the security operatives to prove the documents are fake.
“We have gone through all processes and been certified by the EPA, Minerals Commission and others. We have genuine documents covering operations. The Minister instituted a team and they have been here to certify our documents,” he said.
JoyNews sources with the 18-member committee on mining instituted by the Lands Ministry have revealed that the Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining has all documents covering the mine intact.
At the other site mined by the community, all documents but the operational permit are secured.
Meanwhile, the investigative body is concerned about the mode of operation at the Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining.
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