Accra, Dec. 17, GNA - The Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested 51 foreigners involved in small-scale illegal mining in the Central and Western Regions.

Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public Affairs of GIS, said in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday that 11 of them were arrested in the Central Region while 40 were arrested in the Western Region. He said the Enforcement Unit went to 14 mining sites, where the foreigners were arrested at Dankro, Nyinawaso and Wabionso. They were operating in the Offin River bed and its surrounding areas with mining equipment such as excavators and water pumping machine. Mr Palmdeti said the illegal miners could not speak English so they could not mention the names of the companies they worked for. He added that information gathered indicated that 10 of them worked for Handol Limited, while others were believed to be working for two other companies yet to be identified.

The PRO said subsequent investigations revealed that a young Chinese identified as Jackie had the passports of most of the foreigners. "Jackie, who is reportedly based in Tema, was invited to assist in investigations. He could not produce the passports and a search in his room at Koreana Hotel in Tema produced no evidence of the passports. He could not produce his own passport to enable investigators to know his status." Mr Palmdeti said the statement of Jackie lacked credibility and even though he claimed to have been in the country for eight months, he could not produce his work and residence permits.

Mr Palmdeti said the companies involved would be made to pay a penalty and bear the cost of repatriation of the foreigners. He announced that three foreigners would be repatriated before the end of the week.

Mr Palmdeti assured the general public that GIS would continue its work to flush out foreigners who engaged in activities without the necessary work and resident permit.

He cautioned companies who hired the services of foreigners to make sure that they secured resident permits for them work.