Chairman of Small Scale Miners Association arrested
Chairman of the Small Scale Miners Association, Kojo Peprah, has been arrested by the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force deployed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after attempting to obstruct an operation in the Desiri Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
According to police reports, Mr. Peprah confronted the task force while they were conducting a sanctioned operation to remove illegal miners from the reserve. He allegedly demanded that the officers explain their mission, prompting his arrest for interfering with a lawful operation.
Upon his arrest, Mr. Peprah claimed he had received reports that the task force had entered his mining concession within the forest. However, the police have explained that Ghana’s mining laws prohibit small-scale mining in forest reserves, casting doubt on the legitimacy of any such operations in the area.
The Desiri Forest Reserve is currently the most heavily affected among 44 forest areas identified by the Forestry Commission as under threat from illegal mining activities.
Mr. Peprah has since been transferred to the Nkawie District Police Command to assist with further investigations.
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