Twelve illegal miners, including three Chinese nationals, were arrested in a recent crackdown on illegal mining activities in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve. The arrests, carried out by the Forestry Commission's Rapid Response and District Monitoring Teams on March 11, 2025, resulted in the seizure of one excavator and two gold detector machines.
The operation targeted two separate locations within the reserve: Compartment 17 and Compartment 63. In Compartment 17, the Chinese suspects – Cheng Yung (48), Yangedon (40), and Lengtar (45) – were apprehended while using an excavator for illegal mining. Meanwhile, nine Ghanaian suspects were engaged in “dig and wash” methods in Compartment 63. These Ghanaians include Yaw Timothy (20), Bonye George (20), Joseph Ayoo (23), Tanzon Mark (20), Kofi Salifu (23), Legosie Francis (20), Justin Dakora (20), Bismark Lebesue (23), and Boye Bedua (26).
All twelve suspects were handed over to the Enchi District Police Command for further investigation and prosecution. The seized excavator is being moved to the Enchi Municipal Assembly premises for safekeeping.
District Manager Joseph Appiah Frimpong emphasized the Forestry Commission's unwavering commitment to combating illegal mining and logging in the nation's forest reserves. He issued a stern warning to those involved in such activities, highlighting the potential penalties – imprisonment, fines, or both – upon conviction.
This operation follows a similar raid on March 9, 2025, where the Commission, in collaboration with 30 military personnel, seized eight excavators, one bulldozer, and a pump-action rifle from Compartments 17 and 20 of the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve. The reserve has faced increasing pressure from illegal mining operations in recent times. This latest arrest underscores the ongoing challenges and the Commission's determined efforts to protect Ghana's valuable natural resources.
