Four Chinese Nationals Arrested for Illegal Mining in Adansi-Asokwa
The Ghana Police Service has apprehended four Chinese nationals for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Subin and Jimi rivers in Atatam, a community in the Adansi-Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region.
The suspects, identified as Li Quan (44), Lu Jianzheng (36), Li Xuyu (47), and Su Shanxing (63), were arrested during a joint operation involving the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) and the Ashanti South Regional Police Command.
The suspects were allegedly operating heavy machinery at the site, despite laws prohibiting foreigners from participating in small-scale mining.
Their activities have resulted in significant environmental degradation, with approximately ten football fields’ worth of forest cover destroyed.
The Subin and Jimi rivers, which are crucial sources of drinking water for nearby communities, are also under threat due to the illegal mining.
Read:Minerals Commission Concludes Public Consultation on Mining Policy Review, Legal Amendments with GNASSM.www.noblenews.net.
During the operation, 11 excavators were seized, with parts of four machines removed to immobilize them, while the remaining seven were transported to the Regional CID in Bekwai.
Additionally, three pump-action guns were recovered from the suspects.
The arrest highlights the ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and environmental degradation in Ghana’s mining communities.
The police have reiterated their commitment to rooting out illegal mining activities and bringing perpetrators to justice.
The operation was led by Regional Operations Commander ASP Enoch Boateng, with support from the CEO of MDF, Dr. Hanna Bisiw, and her team
