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The Rapid Response and the District Monitoring Teams in the Enchi Forest District of the Forestry Commission (FC) on 11th March 2025, arrested 12 illegal miners and seized one excavator and two gold detector machines in Compartments 17 and 63 of the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region.
The suspects included three Chinese who were using an excavator machine for illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, in Compartment 17, and nine other suspects believed to be Ghanaians, who were engaged in “dig and wash” in Compartment 63 in the same Reserve.
The Chinese were; Cheng Yung, 48; Yangedon,40; and Lengtar,45. The Ghanaians gave their names as Yaw Timothy, 20; Bonye George,20; Joseph Ayoo, 23; and Tanzon Mark, 20. The rest were Kofi Salifu 23; Legosie Francis, 20; Justin Dakora, 20; Bismark Lebesue, 23; and Boye Bedua, 26.
The suspects have been handed over to the Enchi District Police Command for further investigations and prosecution. Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to move the excavator from the Reserve for safekeeping at the Enchi Municipal Assembly premises.
The Tano Anwia Forest Reserve has come under severe attacks in recent times. It would be recalled that on 9th March 2025, FC in collaboration with 30 military men stormed the Reserve and seized eight excavators, one bulldozer and a pump action rifle in Compartments 17 and 20.
According to the District Manager, Mr. Joseph Appiah Frimpong, “the Forestry Commission will not relent in its efforts in the fight against illegal mining and logging in the nation’s forest reserves. I would like to throw caution to the illegal operators to be very mindful of their acts because the Commission will be at their heels and they could face imprisonment, a fine or both when found guilty at the law courts”, he said.
Source: Publicagenda.news
