Li Wen Qieng, 28, and Mo Sin Shan, 35, were arrested in Wassa Saman in the Wassa Mampong District in the Western Region on Saturday, October 22, 2016.

Briefing the media, the Deputy Intelligence Manager of COCOBOD, Mr Wisdom Delali Amehame, said a security guard of the Seed Production Department of the COCOBOD spotted the two who had erected canopies and were using two bulldozers to clear the land for mining.

He, therefore, alerted the Intelligence Department of COCOBOD and with the assistance of the police, the two were arrested.

However, the two were released on bail because the Wassa Akropong Police could not get anyone to translate from Chinese to English for the suspects to be interrogated.

Complicit Ghanaian

Mr Amehame said the two then went back to the parcel of land and continued with the clearing of about 4.5 acres that night.

The attention of officials of COCOBOD was once again drawn to the activities of the two and they once again caused the arrest of the suspects.

Mr Amehame said with the help of an interpreter, they were able to find out that the two had come into the country by the invitation of a Ghanaian, popularly known as “Wonder” of Wonder Mining Company Limited.

“Wonder” led the two to the land of the COCOBOD for them to start their illegal activity in their bid to mine for gold.

“Wonder” also stood bail for the two when they were first arrested.

Mr Amehame explained that upon the rearrest and interrogation of the two, “Wonder” got the hint that he had been found out and therefore absconded.

Act

The Public Affairs Manager of COCOBOD, Mr Noah Amenyah, said illegal mining was taking a toll on the cocoa sector in the country.

Farmers had had to part with their farms because of the activities of illegal miners, he added.

Mr Amenyah tasked the National Security to take action.

“If no action is taken there will be no cocoa industry in some years to come,” he said.