"Small-scale mining company shut down; Russian, Ukrainian operators arrested", 22 May 2017

Following a tour of some mining sites, Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, has ordered the foreign-operated Geo Professional Services to shut down with immediate effect. The Minister has also ordered the arrest of the foreigners involved, including two Russians and two Ukrainians. The mining firm was found to be using licenses of three local mining companies to mine at Tontokrom in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region...The firm has mined 500 acres of land instead of 75 acres originally permitted by the Minerals Commission...The company said it had a small scale mining license, but Mr. Amewu, in an exchange of words with the foreign miners, retorted that “what you are doing here has nothing to do with the small scale. You are destroying the environment and polluting the water bodies.”...Two other companies, Kasmil Mining Company Limited and K. Afriyie and Sons Precious Metals Company Limited, were also issued with a stop work order. These two companies are to also see to the reclamation of the land they worked on.