Five Chinese, Ghanaian arrested for mining in forest reserve

Five Chinese and a Ghanaian have been arrested for allegedly carrying out illegal mining in the forest reserve between Enchi-Kwawu and Elubo in the Aowin District in the Western Region.

The six were found using a sophisticated processing facility, earth-moving machines and other equipment to mine gold in the reserve early Friday.

At the time of their arrest by the Aowin District Security Task Force, the suspects had degraded several hectares of land and diverted water bodies to their operational sites.

The Chinese have been named as Shi Quiang, Li Gao Ning, Huang Ning, Duang Woaning and Zheng Yuanchang, while the Ghanaian has been identified as Emmanuel Boampong.

The six are currently in custody at the Enchi District Police Station and will be processed for court.

According to the Aowin District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oscar Larbi, who led the task force, at the time of their arrest the Chinese were armed with pump-action guns.

Two out of the five Chinese had no passports, while the other three had passports with visas which expired on January 31, 2013.

Briefing the Daily Graphic, Mr Larbi said when members of the task force reached the illegal mining site, the suspects, who had installed machines and were engaged in serious mining, had diverted a river.

He said the suspects had also installed a generator to supply electricity to power the processing plants.

He said currently the assembly was making arrangements to move the equipment to the district capital.

Asked whether the suspects had permits, the DCE said preliminary investigations carried out by the task force had revealed that the area in question had not been allocated to anybody, neither did the operators have any permit to undertake any mining activity.

Mr Larbi said the government would deal resolutely with those engaged in illegal mining, which was degrading the environment.

Source: Daily Graphic