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An illegal miner has been arrested during a security inspection at a reclaimed illegal mining site near the Agenda 111 hospital project at Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, as authorities intensify efforts to protect critical national infrastructure from the activities of galamsey operators.
The suspect was apprehended while allegedly operating on the outskirts of the reclaimed land during an official monitoring exercise by the Ashanti Regional Land Reclamation Committee.
The inspection confirmed that large portions of land previously destroyed by illegal mining have been successfully restored following a reclamation exercise ordered by the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene after widespread public concern over the encroachment of galamsey activities on the Agenda 111 hospital project.
Leading the joint monitoring team, the Ashanti Regional Deputy Security Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullah Umaru Nje, expressed concern over the extensive environmental damage caused by illegal mining and warned that security agencies would continue to clamp down on offenders.
He stressed that government remains committed to protecting reclaimed lands and strategic public infrastructure, adding that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining would be arrested and prosecuted.
The monitoring team comprised officials from National Security, the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Agricentric Ventures, and Logeist Group Limited, who inspected the progress of the restoration works.
General Manager of Logeist Group Limited, Benjamin Karikari Dwira, disclosed that the remaining degraded portions of the land could be fully reclaimed within the next three months, provided work continues as planned.
He noted that the reclamation exercise has recorded significant progress and would restore the area to a stable and productive condition.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the reclaimed land, the Chief Executive Officer of Agricentric Ventures, Gideon Nyamesen, announced plans to cultivate oil-yielding plants across the restored site.
According to him, the initiative will improve soil fertility, prevent further land degradation, and create sustainable economic opportunities for residents while discouraging any return of illegal mining activities.
The latest arrest highlights the resolve of the Ashanti Regional Security Council and its partners to sustain the fight against illegal mining and safeguard critical government projects, including the Agenda 111 hospital, from environmental destruction and unlawful encroachment.
