Twelve suspected illegal miners have been remanded into police custody following their arrest during a two-day anti-galamsey operation in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.

The operation, carried out by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission on July 31 and August 1, targeted illegal mining activities in Compartments 1, 10 and 12 of the protected forest reserve.

During the exercise, the enforcement team immobilised an excavator and seized several pieces of equipment believed to have been used for illegal mining.

The items included a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 water pumps, two power plants, two generators and an air blower.

The suspects — Abu Naa, Adakwa Mathew, John Tibootey, Nurudeen Issah, Henry Peter, Ruth Agbenyo, Anthony Amadi, Sesi Mclean, Benjamin Owusu, Richard Atta, Sumaila Mohammed and Abel Nti — were subsequently arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court.

The presiding judge, His Honour Isaac Apeatu, remanded the accused persons into police custody. They are expected to reappear before the court on August 11 and 12, 2026.

The Forestry Commission also disclosed that a suspect identified as Abena Ahenkan, believed to be the leader of one of the illegal mining groups operating in the area, escaped during the operation and is currently being sought by security agencies.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the country’s forest reserves, the Commission said it would continue to intensify enforcement operations against illegal mining and pursue individuals whose activities threaten Ghana’s forests and other natural resources.

Source: Adom News