106 illegal foreigners arrested for prospecting for gold

A total of 106 foreigners from Guinea, Mali, Niger and Ivory Coast have been arrested by the Northern Regional Police Command at Tinga in the Bole District for illegally prospecting for gold.

They would be put before court on Monday on charges of prospecting for gold contrary to section 103 of the PNDC law 1986 of the Minerals Mining Act.

The suspects who included: 99 Guineans, four Malians one person from Niger, one Ivorian and one Ghanaian were arrested on Saturday at about 0500 hours while prospecting for mineral.

Briefing the media in Tamale on Sunday, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ebenezer Tetteh, Regional Public Relations Officer said the police and the Ghana Immigration Service received intelligence information that the suspects were engaged in the illegal mining popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’.

He said the security agencies met the suspects at the site with 66 gold detecting equipment and when interrogated, they admitted the offence and alleged that the Chief for Tinga granted them the permission after charging each of them GH¢100 and provided receipt to prove their claims.

ASP Tetteh said the chief has been invited for questioning.

Alhaji Kulabali, the Leader of the group told the Ghana News Agency that they heard of the availability of gold in the country and journeyed from their countries through Burkina Faso and Hamile in the Upper West Region travelling by road.

He claimed they had no idea of the legal requirements for prospecting for gold in the country.