A total of 24 suspects have been arrested following a dawn anti-illegal mining operation at the Atewa Range Forest in Sagyimase on Monday, April 28, 2026.
The operation, carried out at about 3:30 a.m., involved 30 members of the Rapid Response Teams drawn from six teams across the country by the Forestry Commission.
The exercise was aimed at flushing out illegal miners operating within the forest reserve.
According to officials, several other illegal miners fled the scene during the swoop.
As part of the operation, 16 water pumping machines were destroyed, while 52 makeshift poly-sheet tent structures used by the miners were also burned down. Two additional water pumping machines were seized and transported to the district office as exhibits.
The arrested suspects are currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office and will subsequently be handed over to the District Police for further investigation and prosecution.
The suspects, are from various parts of the country, include individuals from Kintampo, Prang, Dodowa, Navrongo, Tumu, Nandom, Tatale, Wa, Walewale, Bonwire, Bole, Nkawie, Salaga, Pusiga, Asiakwa, and Somenya.
Among those arrested are minors including an 8 year old , raising concerns over the involvement of children in illegal mining activities.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding their presence at the site.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which continues to pose a major threat to Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
The arrest comes few weeks after Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape held a press conference to call on the security agencies to clampdown on dozens of illegal miners who have erected tents and camps in the deep forest of Atiwa range.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
