Pentecost Elder Arrested Over Illegal Mining in Ashanti Region

An elder of the Church of Pentecost has been arrested over alleged involvement in illegal mining at Akyem Morso near Juaso in the Ashanti Region. The suspect, identified as David Bobie Peter, was arrested on April 30, 2026, during an operation by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). The operation formed part of a targeted anti-galamsey exercise along the Kume River, covering Morso, Kyekyebiase, and Bimma in the Asante Akim South District. According to reports, the task force first moved to Kyekyebiase, where several illegal miners fled into the bush, abandoning their equipment. Officers dismantled the site and destroyed tools used for mining, including chanfang machines and wooden structures. Some equipment was also seized. The team later found an excavator hidden on a cocoa farm and disabled it. NAIMOS said the suspect was arrested after approaching officers and claiming he was visiting his farm. However, investigations reportedly showed he was actually a foreman at one of the illegal mining sites. He later led the task force to another site where parts of the Kume River had been polluted and diverted for mining activities. Another excavator was discovered there and also disabled. The suspect has been handed over to the Ghana Police Service in Konongo for further investigation and possible prosecution. NAIMOS says its anti-illegal mining operations will continue without fear or favour, stressing the need for a united and firm approach to tackling galamsey.