In a bold move to protect the country’s natural resources, the Forestry Commission has teamed up with the Ghana Police Service to raid six illegal mining sites in Samreboi, located in the Western North Region of Ghana.
The operation, which took place on Thursday, 17th April 2025, resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals, including 16 Chinese nationals, 2 Koreans, and 8 Ghanaians.
One of the largest operations in the country’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, the raid began at 5 a.m. and lasted for an intense 12 hours, yielding significant results.
The joint task force, composed of Ghana Police and Forestry Commission officers, seized eight excavators, two Toyota Hilux pickups, a Toyota RAV4, and four motorbikes. Additionally, five excavators were abandoned at the sites due to “mobility challenges.”
The raid has earned the government widespread praise across social and mainstream media platforms. It follows recent stern warnings by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, against all illegal mining activities in the country.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining, stating, “We are relentless in this fight; hence we are working closely with partner institutions to clamp down and flush out illegal miners from our water bodies and forest reserves.” The Minister made these remarks during a recent press conference.
