The Nkawkaw District Police Command has denied claims that it took custody of two Chinese nationals who were allegedly arrested for illegal mining on Friday, March 21.
According to reports by Republic Press journalist, Andy Frimpong Manso, the youth of Akoase apprehended two Chinese nationals and three Ghanaian illegal miners.
The group was found with an undisclosed amount of black gold, which was reportedly handed over to the Akoase Police Station, operating under the Nkawkaw District Command.
The arrested individuals were entrusted to a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer identified as Owusu. He was expected to transfer all five suspects to the Nkawkaw District Police for further investigation. However, in a surprising development, Officer Owusu only transferred the three Ghanaian suspects, leaving the two Chinese nationals and the black gold behind.
In response to inquiries, Nkawkaw District Police Commander Victor Kwakye clarified in an interview with Republic Press that his unit never received the Chinese suspects, contradicting earlier reports that they were in police custody.
With the whereabouts of the Chinese miners and the seized black gold remaining unclear, public concerns are growing. Many are now demanding answers from the Akoase CID officer regarding the fate of the missing individuals and confiscated materials.
Providing further details on the case, Commander Kwakye confirmed that the youth conducted a citizen’s arrest on March 21. He stated that only three Ghanaian suspects—identified as Freeman Kwafo, 42, Augustine Adoma, 45, and Bawa Mohammed, 25—were transferred from Akoase to the Nkawkaw District Command.
Kwakye revealed that the suspects had been manhandled by the youth before being handed over to the police. Upon arrival at the Nkawkaw District Command, they were released to seek medical attention and instructed to report accordingly.
He also explained that illegal mining (galamsey) cases typically do not remain at the district level but are automatically transferred to the Regional Command at Mpraeso for trial. In accordance with this procedure, the case dockets of the Ghanaian suspects have been filed and forwarded to the Eastern North Regional Command in Mpraeso for judicial proceedings.
As the controversy unfolds, authorities and the public continue to demand accountability regarding the missing Chinese miners and the fate of the confiscated black gold.
A close source told Andy Frimpong that the top hierarchy of the police at Nkawkaw Command has begun interrogating the station officer who debunked having any knowledge about the case. The CID officer, Owusu is next in line for interrogation by his bosses. It is also with noting that the CID is an officer who is well known in the area, therefore it is obvious to malign with the system in the area.
