In a dawn operation sanctioned by the Western Regional Security Council, a team led by Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd) has seized seven excavators and 18 water pumps from the Neung South Forest Reserve.
The operation targeted illegal mining activities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality. The team reiterated its commitment to combating the destructive practice, citing its devastating impact on the region’s water bodies and forest reserves.
The Sunday, October 19, 2025, intelligence-led operation was carried by the joint task force where they disrupted significant illegal mining activities in the Neung South Forest Reserve, an area within the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality that has suffered extensive environmental damage.
Sanctioned by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson and supported by the National security’s Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd), the Second Infantry Battalion, and the Western Naval Command, the operation led to the seizure of seven excavators and eighteen water pumping machines.
One pump-action gun was also recovered. The team destroyed all makeshift structures at the site.
While two excavators were unserviceable, the team removed the control boards of three, the operatives also successfully tracked and located the other two.
In a departure from earlier raids where miners used spiritual charms and security forces this time discovered only a solitary Bible left behind in the abandoned camps.
Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd), the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, recounted the successful execution of the operation.
“An intelligent we had was that there’s a serious illegal mining activity within the Neung South Forest Reserve in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality. During the operation, we discovered seven excavators.
“Two of the seven excavators were not serviceable. Of the remaining five, three had their control boards removed. We successfully secured two operational excavators, which have been transferred to the Simpa Police Station. Additionally, we confiscated eighteen water pumping machines and one pump-action gun.
“The scale of the devastation in the Neung South Forest Reserve underscores the critical need to sustain this effort. We anticipate subsequent operations to dismantle all illegal mining networks operating within the reserve.”
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