A coordinated operation by the Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response and District Monitoring Teams in the Enchi Forest District has led to the arrest of 12 illegal miners and the confiscation of an excavator and two gold detector machines.
The raid, conducted on March 11, 2025, targeted Compartments 17 and 63 of the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Western Region, a hotspot for illegal mining activities.
Among those arrested were three Chinese nationals—Cheng Yung, 48; Yangedon, 40; and Lengtar, 45—who were reportedly using an excavator for illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” in Compartment 17.
Nine Ghanaian nationals were also apprehended while engaging in “dig and wash” activities in Compartment 63. The suspects have been handed over to the Enchi District Police Command for further investigations and possible prosecution.
The Forestry Commission is making arrangements to transport the seized excavator to the Enchi Municipal Assembly premises for safekeeping.
This latest crackdown comes just days after a similar operation on March 9, 2025, when Forestry Commission officials, assisted by 30 military personnel, seized eight excavators, a bulldozer, and a pump-action rifle from illegal miners operating within the forest reserve.
Mr. Joseph Appiah Frimpong, Enchi Forest District Manager, reaffirmed the Forestry Commission’s unwavering stance against illegal mining and logging.
“We are committed to protecting Ghana’s forests. Illegal miners and loggers should take this as a warning—the Forestry Commission will not hesitate to take action against those who threaten our natural resources,” he stated.
Authorities have pledged to ramp up enforcement measures in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, which remains under constant threat from illegal mining operations.
