The government says 20 persons arrested at Akyem Akenteng, in the West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region, for engaging in illegal small-scale mining are not national security operatives.

Earlier reports suggested that the persons arrested by youth in the area had claimed they were officials of national security.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau revealed that the persons arrested are not staff or operatives of the Ministry of National Security,” a statement from the Ministry of National Security stated.

The statement, which was issued by the Ministry of Information on behalf of the National Security Ministry, said the persons arrested named a contract staff of the National Security Ministry as the one who engaged them for the said activity.

“Upon completion of preliminary interrogation, both the arrested persons and their said contractor have all been remanded and are due to be arraigned before court.”

“The Ministry [of National Security], through this statement, wishes to assure the public that it remains fully committed to the fight against illegal mining in the country. The Ministry would also like to caution citizens against perpetrating crime under the guise of National Security. Persons found culpable shall face the full rigours of the law,” the statement added.