National Security, in partnership with the Adansi Asokwa District Security Council (DISEC), has arrested an illegal miner operating close to government’s Agenda 111 project site in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region.

The arrest was made on Tuesday, during a joint inspection and evaluation exercise at a reclaimed illegal mining site by the Ashanti Regional Land Reclamation Committee and National Security.

According to Alhaji Abdullah Omar Nje, Ashanti Regional Deputy National Security Coordinator, the operation was aimed at protecting government infrastructure from encroachment by illegal miners.

He explained that the inspection confirmed that large portions of land previously destroyed by illegal mining have been successfully reclaimed, following a reclamation exercise ordered by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.

He said the directive came after widespread public concern over the encroachment of illegal mining activities on the Agenda 111 hospital projects.

Alhaji Nje expressed concern over the extensive environmental damage caused by illegal mining and warned that security agencies would continue to clamp down on offenders who destroy the environment for selfish interests, to the detriment of the larger population.

He stressed that the government remains committed to protecting reclaimed lands and strategic public infrastructure, adding that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining would be arrested and prosecuted.

The monitoring team, which inspected the progress of the restoration works, comprised officials from National Security, the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Agricentric Ventures and Logeist Group Limited.

The General Manager of Logeist Group Limited, Benjamin Karikari Dwira, disclosed that the remaining degraded portions of the land could be fully reclaimed within the next three months, provided work continues as planned.

He noted that the reclamation exercise has recorded significant progress and will restore the area to a stable and productive condition.

The Chief Executive Officer of Agricentric Ventures, Gideon Nyamesem, also announced plans to cultivate economic plants across the restored site.

According to him, the initiative will improve soil fertility, prevent further land degradation, and create sustainable economic opportunities for residents while discouraging any return of illegal mining activities.

The latest arrest affirms the resolve of the Regional Security Council and its partners to sustain the fight against illegal mining and to safeguard critical government projects, including the Agenda 111 hospital, from environmental destruction and unlawful encroachment.