12 Illegal Miners Arrested for Invading Bosomtwe Forest Reserve

Illegal Miners Arrested for Invading Bosomtwe Forest Reserve

Twelve suspected illegal miners have been arrested following a major operation by the Forestry Commission to clamp down on illegal mining activities within the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.

The arrests were made during a two-day enforcement exercise led by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission, targeting individuals accused of illegally mining in protected sections of the reserve.

According to officials, the suspects were operating in Compartments 1, 10 and 12 of the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve, where their activities are believed to have caused significant environmental damage.

The operation also led to the seizure and immobilisation of several pieces of mining equipment, including one excavator, a tricycle, seven Changfan machines, 21 water pumping machines, two power plants, two generators and an air blower. The Forestry Commission said the equipment had been used to facilitate illegal mining within the protected forest.

The 12 suspects have since been arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court and remanded into police custody. The court adjourned the case to August 11 and 12, 2026, when the accused persons are expected to reappear.

Meanwhile, security agencies are pursuing another suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the illegal mining operation, who reportedly escaped during the raid.

The latest arrests form part of the government's renewed efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which continues to threaten Ghana's forests, rivers and biodiversity. Authorities have repeatedly warned that individuals involved in illegal mining activities within forest reserves will face the full force of the law.

The Forestry Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country's forest reserves through sustained surveillance and joint enforcement operations with other security agencies.

Environmental experts have consistently cautioned that illegal mining not only destroys forest ecosystems but also pollutes water bodies, degrades farmlands and undermines the livelihoods of communities that depend on natural resources.

Global Pulse GH will continue to monitor developments surrounding the case and provide timely updates as they emerge.

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