Eight individuals who allegedly posed as national security operatives have been arrested by police for reportedly stealing gold, mobile phones, and cash from illegal miners at Assin Awisam in the Central Region.
The suspects—said to include the son of a Municipal Chief Executive—arrived in the community on Friday afternoon in a black Mitsubishi pick-up truck with registration GS 8293-18 and a Toyota Voxy.
According to reports, the group carried out an operation during which they seized belongings from miners, including an unspecified quantity of gold, cash, and mobile phones.
Angered by what they described as repeated extortion by the same group, some community members confronted the suspects and launched an attack.
Residents deflated the tyres of the vehicles and attempted to lynch the individuals, who were dressed in national security uniforms. The situation was brought under control through the intervention of community leaders, who handed the suspects over to police in Awisam.
However, tensions remained high as irate youth besieged the police station, prompting the Assin North Regional Police Command to deploy a reinforcement team. The suspects were subsequently secured and transported to Assin Foso.
During initial interrogation, the suspects reportedly admitted taking some mobile phones but denied stealing any gold.
All eight suspects are currently in custody at the Assin North Regional Police Command, assisting with investigations.
Youth leader of the community, George Anokye, told Citi News, “it was not the first time some individuals under the guise of state security extorted money from miners in the area”.
According to him, the same group “have been persistently harassing miners and in one instance in the later part of last year (2025) set ablaze a water pumping machine belonging to a miner known as Seidu for failing to meet their demand even after allegedly taking GHS 120,000 from him.”
He warned that such incidents are fueling anger in the community, noting that continued suspicious anti-galamsey operations and extortion could trigger unrest if authorities fail to act.
