A joint operation by the Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and 30 military personnel led to the seizure of nine excavators, a bulldozer, and the arrest of four illegal miners in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Western North Region.
The operation, conducted on Sunday, March 9, 2025, targeted Compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve, which had become a hub for illegal mining, known as ‘galamsey.’
This follows multiple unsuccessful attempts to drive out illegal miners, who had previously resisted eviction, often armed and in large numbers.
The confiscated machinery is currently secured at the Enchi District Assembly premises, while a formal complaint has been lodged with the Enchi District Police Command for further investigations and potential prosecutions.
The crackdown comes amid increasing public concern over the destruction of Ghana’s forest reserves by illegal mining operations. Earlier intelligence-led operations on March 4 and March 6 had failed to yield arrests, as the miners fled or resisted eviction.
However, after videos of the miners’ defiance went viral on social media, authorities intensified their response, deploying a heavily armed task force to enforce the law.
The Forestry Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s forest resources, warning that individuals caught engaging in illegal mining will face severe legal consequences.
