GENERAL NEWS

12 illegal miners, including three Chinese arrested in Tano Anwia Forest Reserve

A joint operation by the Rapid Response and District Monitoring Teams of the Forestry Commission (FC) in the Enchi Forest District has led to the arrest of 12 illegal miners and the seizure of an excavator and two gold detector machines in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve of the Western Region.

The operation carried out on March 11, 2025, targeted Compartments 17 and 63 of the forest reserve, which has been under intense illegal mining activities in recent times.

Among the arrested individuals were three Chinese nationals, identified as:

Cheng Yung, 48 Yangedon, 40 Lengtar, 45. They were allegedly using an excavator for illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey”, in Compartment 17 of the reserve.

Additionally, nine Ghanaian suspects were arrested while engaging in “dig and wash” activities in Compartment 63.

They 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 Boye Bedua, 26.

The suspects have been handed over to the Enchi District Police Command for further investigations and prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Forestry Commission is making arrangements to move the seized excavator to the Enchi Municipal Assembly premises for safekeeping.

This latest operation follows a similar exercise carried out on March 9, 2025, when the Forestry Commission, in collaboration with 30 military personnel, stormed the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve and seized eight excavators, one bulldozer, and a pump-action rifle in Compartments 17 and 20.

Commenting on the arrests, the Enchi Forest District Manager, Joseph Appiah Frimpong, reiterated the Forestry Commission’s commitment to fighting illegal mining and logging in Ghana’s forest reserves.

“The Forestry Commission will not relent in its efforts to protect our natural resources.

“I want to caution illegal miners and loggers to desist from these activities, as the Commission will remain relentless in pursuing them,” Frimpong warned.

He further emphasized that those caught engaging in illegal mining could face imprisonment, fines, or both if found guilty.

The Tano Anwia Forest Reserve remains a high-risk area for illegal mining, and authorities have vowed to intensify their operations to safeguard the environment from further degradation.

 

Source: classfmonline.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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