The Blue Water Guard in the Juaboso district of the Western North region has seized four water pumping machines and nine gas cylinders from illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers, during an operation at Topman, a community near Bonsu Nkwanta.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, forms part of ongoing efforts by the task force to monitor and protect water bodies in the area. The team focused on rivers within the enclave, particularly along the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire boundary.
According to the District Commander of the Blue Water Guard, John Nkrumah, the team identified the Sonka River, which has been heavily polluted by illegal mining activities.
He explained that upon the arrival of the task force, the illegal miners fled the scene, abandoning their equipment. Officers subsequently seized four pumping machines and nine gas cylinders believed to have been used to power the operations.
Mr. Nkrumah noted that the miners rely on gas cylinders instead of petrol to run their machines.
He further alleged that those involved in the illegal activity are foreign nationals from La Côte d’Ivoire.
Due to the remote nature of the area, the seized items have been temporarily handed over to the community chairman of Topman for safekeeping, pending retrieval by the authorities.
He further highlighted logistical challenges facing the task force, stressing the urgent need for a tricycle to facilitate the transportation of seized equipment from illegal mining sites.
No arrests were made during the operation.
The exercise forms part of intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities on water bodies.
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