A joint operation involving the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Forestry Commission (FC) and 30 military personnel has led to a major crackdown on illegal mining in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, located in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region.
During the raid on Sunday, March 9, 2025, the team seized 10 excavators and a bulldozer while apprehending four individuals in Compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve.
This latest enforcement action follows an earlier operation on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, when staff from the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the FC, in collaboration with the RRU, responded to a tip-off and stormed the same forest reserve.
At that time, 12 excavators engaged in illegal mining activities were driven out of the area. However, the team was unable to make any arrests as they were outnumbered, and the miners were reportedly armed.
The latest raid underscores the government’s intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, which continues to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s forest reserves and natural ecosystems.
On Thursday, 6th March 2025, based on an intelligence report that illegal miners were planning to return to the Forest Reserve, the team returned to the Forest and prevented re-entry by the illegal miners.
On Saturday, 8th March 2025, the team, upon a tip-off that the illegal miners had returned to the Reserve, went there to effect arrest, but they were outnumbered by the miners, who were heavily armed.
The miners refused to remove the excavators from the Reserve.
Subsequently, the joint team was dispatched to the Reserve to effect arrest and seize the excavators.
The seized equipment is being evacuated to the Enchi District Assembly premises. A formal complaint has been made to the Enchi District Police Command.
Source: Citinewsroom
