EPA Intensifies Enforcement Against Illegal Mining in Western Region with Arrests and Cyanide Seizures

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has escalated its crackdown on illegal mining operations in Ghana’s Western Region, resulting in the arrest of a key suspect and the seizure of highly toxic chemicals. In a series of enforcement actions spanning the Nzema East Municipality and Nkroful, officials targeted sites responsible for severe environmental degradation and the unauthorized use of controlled substances. These operations highlight the government’s renewed commitment to protecting vital water bodies and farmlands from the devastating impacts of unregulated gold extraction.

In the Nzema East Municipality, the EPA arrested Abeka Gogo, a suspected illegal miner operating at a site in Adrekazo. The arrest followed a joint inspection which revealed that Gogo had continued his activities despite a formal directive to cease operations issued on May 19, 2026. Preliminary investigations indicate that the illegal site had been active for four months without the necessary permits. The operation caused significant damage to local wetlands and farmlands, as miners were found washing gold materials and discharging untreated wastewater directly into a tributary of the Ankobra River.

Parallel to the arrest in Nzema East, EPA officials conducted a compliance check in Nkroful, where they uncovered an illegal cyanide operation at a small-scale mining site. Led by the EPA Deputy Director for Mining, Harrison Afful, the team seized eight drums of smuggled sodium cyanide. The inspection team discovered visible toxic chemical residues, posing a severe health risk to the local community. Afful emphasized that sodium cyanide is a strictly controlled substance in Ghana, and its use by unlicensed entities is a serious criminal offense that threatens both human health and ecological stability.

Moving forward, the EPA, in collaboration with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, is working to clear the affected sites and restore the damaged environments. The Authority has signaled its intent to pursue rigorous legal action against all individuals involved in these violations to serve as a deterrent. These recent enforcement successes underscore the ongoing challenges in the fight against illegal mining and the critical need for constant vigilance to safeguard Ghana's natural resources and public health.