The Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response team recently conducted a successful raid on an illegal mining, also known as galamsey, camp in the Subri Forest Reserve near Benso in the Western Region. This operation led to the arrest of four armed miners who were found engaging in mining activities within a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area of the forest.
During the raid, the team confiscated five pump action guns, along with 77 rounds of ammunition, and took action by destroying three excavators that were being used for illegal mining. Additionally, various other items found at the site have been handed over to the Takoradi police for further investigation.
The arrested individuals, namely Innussah Yussif, Issah Seidu, Shadrack Yowson, and Emmanuel Adawusu, are all Ghanaians and are suspected to have been supported by influential figures who facilitated their illegal mining activities, resulting in significant environmental damage within the forest as they pursued gold.
This raid is part of a joint rapid response effort in the Takoradi Forest District and comes at a time when there has been a noticeable increase in illegal mining activities leading to substantial degradation of Ghana’s forest reserves.
The Forestry Commission remains committed to combating illegal mining and protecting the country's natural resources. Such operations are crucial in safeguarding the environment and ensuring the sustainability of Ghana’s forests for future generations.
-source Erastus Asare Donkor | Adomonline | curated by Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
