Assin: 5 illegal miners including 3 Chinese nationals arrested

Five people engaged in illegal mining at Assin Ayitey in the Central Region have been arrested. The Central North Regional Police Command’s anti-galamsey taskforce made the arrest of the five individuals made up of three Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians.

The five were arrested along the River Fum at Assin Ayitey, near Assin Akonfudi in the Assin North district of the Central Region.

The arrested suspects include Duut Kwabena Sakakba, 38, Douglas Nyamekye, 36, Ma Jian, 37, Ma Young, 31 and Ma Haibi, 54.

The police told Graphic Online’s Central Regional correspondent, Shirley Asiedu-Addo that their illegal mining operations have severely polluted the river Fum, a key water source for surrounding communities and other water bodies in the area.

The suspects are currently in police custody, and were expected to arraigned in court.