Twelve suspected illegal miners have been remanded into police custody after they were picked up during a two-day operation targeting illegal mining activities in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in Ashanti Region.
The 2-day-operation, conducted by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission, to rid the forest of illegal miners on 31st July and 1st August,2026.
The exercise uncovered groups of illegal miners operating within Compartments 1, 10 and 12 of the protected forest reserve.
During the operation, the enforcement team immobilised an excavator and confiscated several items believed to have been used for illegal mining, including a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 pumping machines, 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.
Presiding over the case, 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 disclosed that one Abena Ahenkan, believed to be the alleged leader of one of the illegal mining groups, escaped during the operation and is currently being sought by authorities.
The Commission affirmed its commitment to protecting Ghana’s forest reserves from illegal mining, emphasizing that enforcement operations will continue to target individuals whose activities threaten the country’s forests and natural resources.
By Benjamin Aidoo
