Twelve people accused of engaging in illegal mining have been remanded into police custody after being arrested during a two-day anti-galamsey operation in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
The operation, conducted by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission on July 31 and August 1, focused on illegal mining activities in Compartments 1, 10 and 12 of the protected forest reserve.
As part of the exercise, the task force disabled an excavator and confiscated several items allegedly used in the illegal mining operations. The seized equipment included a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 water pumps, two power plants, two generators and an air blower.
The suspects, identified as Abu Naa, Adakwa Mathew, John Tibootey, Nurudeen Issah, Henry Peter, Ruth Agbenyo, Anthony Amadi, Sesi Mclean, Benjamin Owusu, Richard Atta, Sumaila Mohammed and Abel Nti, were later arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court.
Presiding over the case, His Honour Isaac Apeatu ordered that the accused persons be remanded into police custody. They are scheduled to return to court on August 11 and 12, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Forestry Commission said another suspect, Abena Ahenkan, who is believed to be the leader of one of the illegal mining groups operating in the forest reserve, escaped during the operation and is currently being pursued by security agencies.
The Commission reaffirmed its resolve to clamp down on illegal mining in the country’s forest reserves, stressing that it will continue to intensify enforcement actions and ensure that individuals involved in activities that endanger Ghana’s forests and natural resources are brought to justice.
