Four Chinese nationals have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Subin and Jimi rivers in Atatam, located in the Adansi-Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region.
The arrests were made during a joint operation led by the CEO of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), her team, and officers from the Ashanti South Regional Police Command, under the leadership of Regional Operations Commander ASP Enoch Boateng.
The suspects—Li Quan (44), Lu Jianzheng (36), Li Xuyu (47), and Su Shanxing (63)—are accused of operating without authorization along two rivers that serve as crucial sources of drinking water for surrounding communities. Their actions are said to have caused significant environmental damage, including the destruction of forestland estimated to span the size of ten football fields.
Although Ghanaian law prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in small-scale mining, the individuals were allegedly using heavy machinery on site. During the raid, 11 excavators were seized. To prevent further use, parts of four machines were removed, while the remaining seven were taken to the Regional CID in Bekwai.
Additionally, police recovered three pump action guns from the suspects.
This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by authorities to combat illegal mining and environmental destruction in Ghana’s mining regions.
