The Forestry Commission has taken significant action in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
A team from the Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission recently conducted an operation to combat illegal mining activities in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve in the Juaboso Forest District of the Western North Region.
The team demobilized 10 excavators and apprehended eight individuals made up of four Chinese nationals and four Ghanaians, who are engaged in illegal mining activities in the reserve.
The arrested suspects arrested were identified as Wen Shi Yu and Wen Yong Cheng, both 30 years old, Wen Fu Kin, 58, and Lee Pin, 60, all Chinese nationals.
The Ghanaians are Edward Owusu, 25, Kwesi Frank, 42, Abudu Ramani, 41, and Joe Naburi 37.
During the operation, the team encountered two individuals carrying AK-47 assault rifles, who claimed to be policemen.
The team demolished makeshift wooden structures erected by the illegal miners and seized three Toyota 4×4 vehicles with registration numbers GN 4165-12, GT 9334-12, and GS 4895-Z.
They also confiscated one unregistered motorbike and two pump-action guns.
The arrested suspects, along with unspecified quantities of a substance suspected to be gold seized during the operation, have been handed over to the Sefwi Wiawso Police Regional Command for further investigations and prosecution.
This operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining activities that have had detrimental effects on the environment, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve.
The reserve is recognized for its rich biodiversity and is designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), making its protection a priority for conservation efforts in Ghana.
By Peter Quao Adattor
