The Bekwai Forest District of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission in Ashanti Region, has arrested 10 illegal miners in Oda River Forest Reserve.
They were allegedly operating in six compartments in the Oda River Forest Reserve.
Items immobilised included excavator- 1, tricycle-7, pumping machine-67, changfang machine-48, motorbike-13.
The ten suspects were arrested and have been handed over to the Police at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District.
The Deputy Regional Manager in charge of Bekwai District of the Forestry Commission, Ernest Adofo, said they were arrested during a three day exercise by the District to clamp down on illegal mining in the forest.
It said the operation was carried out by staff of the Bekwai Forest District and the Rapid Response Teams drawn from four other forest districts.
The suspects include Yusif aged 30, Ibrahim Ishmailiaged 18,Nurudeen Haruna, aged 22, Joel Atinga, aged 24.
Others include Zakari Subru, aged 20, Joseph Hamidu, aged 23, Gideon Apraku, aged 25, Issaka Mammudu, aged 28 and Amos Atingana , aged 22.
All 10 suspects have been remanded into Police custody for one week.
He said the war against illegal mining required collaborative and sustained efforts from all stakeholders, stressing: “This war must be won.”
He cautioned the illegal miners to stay away from the forest reserve since there will be continuous operations to flush out all the illegal miners to secure the forest for the future generation.
We will also solicit the support of all stakeholders to ensure speedy trial of the suspects arrested to serve as deterrent to other illegal miners.
By Benjamin Aidoo
