Some of the arrested Chinese have denied engaging in illegal mining
The Tarkwa Police Station has arrested 10 Chinese nationals suspected to be engaged in illegal mining.
The 10 were caught in the act at a site at Efua Nta Kamponase opposite the Tarkwa Senior High School in the Western Region.
They were arrested Wednesday afternoon following a tip-off by a group called Volunteers Against Illegal Mining, whose members have been employed under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio, had to leave a national stakeholders forum at the University of Mines and Technology at Tarkwa to see to the situation.
One of the suspects refuted claims of being involved in the act, saying he is a tourist and has been in the country for only the past two months.
However, upon several interrogations, he was unable to tell tourist sites he has visited so far.
Another confirmed being involved in the illegal act but says they have been contracted by one Ghanaian Alhaji whose full name they failed to mention.
According to the minister, the suspects will be transferred to Accra for the law to take its course.
