Adansi asokwa: National Security, in partnership with the Adansi Asokwa District Security Council (DISEC), has arrested an illegal miner operating close to the government's Agenda 111 project site in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region.
According to Ghana Web, the arrest was made on Tuesday during a joint inspection and evaluation exercise at a reclaimed illegal mining site by the Ashanti Regional Land Reclamation Committee and National Security. Alhaji Abdullah Omar Nje, Ashanti Regional Deputy National Security Coordinator, stated that the operation aimed to protect government infrastructure from encroachment by illegal miners.
He explained that the inspection confirmed significant reclamation of land previously destroyed by illegal mining, following an exercise ordered by Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene. The directive came after public concern over the impact of illegal mining on the Agenda 111 hospital projects.
Alhaji Nje expressed concern about the environmental damage caused by illegal mining and warned that security agencies would continue to target offenders. He emphasized the government's commitment to protecting reclaimed lands and strategic public infrastructure, with a clear message that illegal mining activities would result in arrests and prosecutions.
The monitoring team included officials from National Security, the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Agricentric Ventures, and Logeist Group Limited. Benjamin Karikari Dwira, General Manager of Logeist Group Limited, disclosed that full reclamation of the remaining degraded land could be achieved within three months if work proceeds as planned.
Gideon Nyamesem, CEO of Agricentric Ventures, announced plans to cultivate economic plants on the restored site. This initiative aims to improve soil fertility, prevent further degradation, and create sustainable economic opportunities for residents, discouraging the resurgence of illegal mining activities.
The recent arrest underscores the resolve of the Regional Security Council and its partners to combat illegal mining and protect critical government projects, such as the Agenda 111 hospital, from environmental destruction and unlawful encroachment.