Three citizens of Burkina Faso have been arrested for allegedly indulging in illegal gold mining in Charikpong Gabilee in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region.

Sumaila Issah, 25, Zakaria Issah, 23, and Yakubu Issah, 24, who were residents of Hamile in the Lambussie/Karni District, were arrested when the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, and his team inspected illegal mining sites in Charikpong Nanga, Gabilee and Vuunyiri at the week end.

The Minister said that the president’s directive on illegal mining would be executed to the letter, and warned that all illegal miners in the region would be flushed out.

Dr Nsoh called on prospective miners to obtain mining permits from the Mineral Commission and acquire concessions to enable them to engage in legal mining.

He said a regional committee would be formed to carry out a study on how to stop illegal mining in the region.

Dr. Nsoh asked miners to use the appropriate equipment in mining and avoid polluting the air, water bodies and destroying the environment.