23 illegal miners arrested for invading underground mines

23 illegal miners were arrested by private security guards in the underground mine area of Earl International Group Gold Ghana Ltd, a large-scale mining company operating in Gbane in the Talensi District.

The suspects were among over 100 galamseyers who invaded the mine on the midnight of Wednesday January 15, 2025 at Shaft 2, level 2 through illegal mining pits.

They have since been handed over to the police for further action.

The massive invasion of the underground mine by illegal miners has been a persistent challenge since the commencement of the deep underground mining operations of the company.

Official sources in the company say management have continued to adopt necessary steps to mitigate the activities of illegal miners in their legally acquired concession by regularly sealing off the illegal mining pits and also engaging community leaders and stakeholders to find a solution to the menace.

This latest arrest is one of the several arrests that have been made in the past one year, as the illegal miners are said to have found the mining area of Earl as the most preferred destination to pilfer gold ore.

It will be recalled that over 30 illegal miners were arrested on August 10, 2024 by the company’s private security guards and handed over to the police.

Also, an attack by the illegal miners on the security guards of the company in an underground operation led to the injury of five of the security guards. According to Mine Manager of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd, Firibu Salia, the recalcitrance and persistent invasion of the underground area of the company does not only obstruct smooth operations of the company but also post danger to the illegal miners and workers of the company.

He disclosed that support pillars and concrete slabs that have been constructed to keep off the illegal miners are often blasted and destroyed by the intruders. He assured the public, regulators, and stakeholders of the company’s commitment to deploying legitimate and sustainable means of addressing this situation.