A joint operation by the Rapid Response Team of the Forestry Commission and the Police has led to the arrest of four illegal miners—two Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians—who were engaged in illegal mining within the Tano-Anwia Forest Reserve in the Aowin Municipality of the Western Region.
The crackdown followed a Joy News investigation that exposed ongoing illegal mining activities in several forest reserves, including Tano-Anwia, despite the government’s intensified efforts to curb the menace.
During the operation, authorities eized two excavators and a pickup vehicle, which were being used by the miners to degrade the protected forest area.
Illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey,‘ has remained a major challenge in Ghana, leading to massive deforestation and pollution of water bodies. While the government has launched various initiatives to combat the practice, the latest arrests highlight the continuous defiance of the law by illegal miners.
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Officials say the suspects will be processed for court, and further investigations will be conducted to identify other accomplices and the financiers behind the operation.
The Forestry Commission has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s forest reserves, warning that more stringent measures will be taken against individuals and groups involved in illegal mining.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu