The Jimirah Forest in the Nkawie Forestry District of the Ashanti Region has become a battleground in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, as armed thugs shield galamsey operators from law enforcement.
Since the start of the year, heavily armed guards have prevented Forestry Commission officers from accessing the forest, forcing the Commission to rely on military intervention for inspections.
A recent operation at dawn on Thursday revealed extensive damage, including stripped vegetation, dug-up land, and silted water bodies.
Eight excavators were discovered hidden within the Adobewora community, though the miners managed to flee before the team’s arrival.
District Manager Abraham Essel described failed earlier attempts to stop the destruction due to threats from weapon-wielding guards.
“It has gone beyond the Forestry Commission. It has become a security matter,” he lamented, noting that officers lack the means to defend themselves.
A mature plantation owned by Tepa Sawmill, valued in the millions, has been ravaged, and the River Punpuni, a key water source has been severely polluted.
Essel warned, “The whole ecosystem has lost its resilience and health,” calling for a permanent military base in the enclave to deter further environmental degradation.
The Acting Executive Director of the Forestry Commission, Lydia Opoku, and Ashanti Regional Manager Clement Omari, who were part of the joint operation, fully supported the call for military presence.
They also urged community members and traditional leaders to take a more active role in protecting the forest.
“We are very surprised that this time round the communities don’t seem to support our cause,” Essel said, citing how illegal miners hide their excavators within local settlements.
The Commission emphasized that forest conservation must be a collective responsibility if Ghana is to win the war against illegal mining.
