Notorious Galamsey Kingpin Kwame Ato Asare Arrested After Deadly Armed Clash in Western Region
In a dramatic escalation of Ghana’s crackdown on illegal mining, 25-year-old Daniel Cudjoe, alias Kwame Ato Asare—known as “Kwame Anne”—a notorious galamsey kingpin, was arrested on September 28, 2025, following a violent armed confrontation near Simpa Sawmill in the Western Region.
The clash, between Asare’s group and rivals from Dadwen led by fugitives Alhassan and Abolo, left Asare’s 23-year-old brother, Emmanuel Cudjoe, dead from gunshot wounds, with Asare himself wounded and hospitalized under police guard.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Beatrice Turkson, Head of Public Affairs for the Western Central Regional Command, confirmed the arrest in a September 30, 2025, statement. Preliminary investigations reveal Asare, alongside his late brother and 10 accomplices, ambushed the Dadwen group in a turf war over mining sites.
Asare was shot in the leg during the exchange and apprehended while seeking treatment. The fugitives remain at large, with a manhunt underway.
Asare, previously arrested in 2023 for assaulting police at an Axim galamsey site—where a viral video showed him forcing an officer to kneel—has a long history of terrorizing communities.
Dubbed a “gangster” by locals, he and his crew extorted miners, engaged in rape, assault, and armed robberies, often flaunting talismans and weapons. Released on bail in June 2023 after beating his uncle for testifying against him, Asare evaded recapture until this incident. Police recovered a locally made pistol and stolen items from his hideout during the 2023 probe.
Turkson emphasized the operation’s role in curbing galamsey violence: “This arrest disrupts a major criminal network fueling illegal mining.” Asare faces charges including conspiracy, murder, and illegal arms possession, with arraignment pending his discharge.
The incident has intensified calls for stricter enforcement, as galamsey gangs increasingly resort to firearms amid resource scarcity. Community leaders in Axim and Enchi hail the arrest as a victory, but warn of retaliation risks from Asare’s allies.
