A raid on the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region by a joint Forestry Commission and Military taskforce has resulted in the seizure of 10 excavators and the arrest of four individuals.
The raid took place on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve.
This raid forms part of government’s efforts to fight illegal mining (galamsey).
Earlier, on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, operational staff from the Enchi Forest District of the Forest Services Division (FSD), along with the Rapid Response Team, acted on a tip-off and stormed the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, successfully removing twelve excavators engaged in illegal mining.
However, the team was unable to make any arrests, as they were outnumbered and the miners were armed.
Following an intelligence report on Thursday, 6 March 2025, indicating that illegal miners were planning to return to the reserve, the team re-entered the forest and prevented re-entry.
On Saturday, 8 March 2025, another tip-off revealed that the illegal miners had returned. The team attempted to effect arrests but was once again outnumbered, as the miners were heavily armed and refused to vacate the reserve.
Subsequently, a joint team was deployed to the area, leading to the arrests and the seizure of the excavators. The confiscated equipment is being transported to the Enchi District Assembly premises, and a formal complaint has been lodged with the Enchi District Police Command.
In Ghana, galamsey refers to unregulated small-scale gold mining conducted without official permits or oversight.
Galamsey activities have led to the destruction of water bodies and land resources in the country, which has raised immense concerns amongst the Ghanaian community.
There have been warnings that if the menace is not checked, the nation will result in importing water in the foreseeable future.
See post:
🇬🇭A joint Forestry Commission and military team seized 10 excavators & 1 bulldozer in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, Enchi. Four suspects were arrested after illegal miners defied multiple warnings and returned. Seized equipment has been moved to the Enchi District Assembly.… pic.twitter.com/mxt4OsjwJO
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) March 9, 2025
