NSUTA, Oct 7 (The African Portal) – Police in Ghana’s Western Region have arrested 12 people accused of engaging in illegal mining that damaged parts of the Nsuta–Takoradi railway line at Akyem in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.
The suspects are due to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, 7 October.
The arrests followed a visit by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, who led members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to inspect the site of the destruction on Monday.
The visit came after a video showing extensive damage to the active railway line circulated online and was reported by the Daily Graphic.
Nelson condemned what he described as the “selfish” actions of the miners, saying they had entered the area without authorisation and destroyed a large section of the railway in pursuit of personal gain.
He said the line was crucial for transporting manganese exports, adding that the damage had come at a time when the Ghana Railway Company was working to restore full operations.
“It is worrying that residents could watch such illegality happen in broad daylight and fail to report it,” the minister said. “This is a threat not only to national assets but also to our very existence, as it endangers the environment and water resources.”
He urged the police to intensify surveillance and asked traditional authorities to help protect their communities from illegal miners. Nelson also called on the Ghana Railway Company to patrol its lines more regularly to prevent further destruction.
Some residents, however, alleged that certain officials from the Ghana Railways Authority had permitted the miners to operate, claiming that the new standard gauge line under construction would not pass through Akyem.
The Assistant Superintendent of Tracks at the Ghana Railway Company, Sampson Nyame, told REGSEC that monitoring the rail lines had become difficult because the only inspection vehicle had broken down.
Meanwhile, community members have expressed regret over the incident and pledged to help restore the affected areas and prevent further illegal mining activities.
This story was written with files from Daily Graphic
