Fourteen individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities at Akyem Muoso in the Eastern Region have been remanded into prison custody following their arrest by the Eastern South Regional Police Command.
The suspects were apprehended on Wednesday, May 15, 2025, during a targeted operation by the police aimed at clamping down on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in the area. They were subsequently arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ on Thursday, May 16.
During the court proceedings, each of the accused persons was granted bail in the sum of GH₵350,000, with two sureties. One of the sureties is required to justify the bail with movable property, in accordance with the conditions set by the court. However, the suspects were unable to meet the bail conditions immediately and were remanded into prison custody to reappear at a later date.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that during the arrest operation, police retrieved a pump action shotgun from one of the suspects, identified as Zuberu Nuhoho.
He allegedly failed to provide any documentation or license for the firearm at the time of arrest. In addition, two excavator control boards believed to be used in illegal mining operations were recovered from the site.
The police say investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the illegal mining operations and to identify other potential accomplices or financiers behind the activity.
The crackdown at Akyem Muoso forms part of a broader regional strategy to combat illegal mining, which continues to pose a significant threat to the environment, water bodies, and local livelihoods in many parts of the Eastern Region.