GENERAL NEWS

Forestry Commission Officer fighting for life after attack by illegal miners in Offin

A member of the Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response Team is battling for his life after being attacked by armed illegal miners in the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.

The officer sustained a deep machete wound to his knee during an ambush by the miners, who were reportedly armed with assault rifles and machetes, JoyNews’ Erastus Asare Donko reported.

The incident occurred when the team entered the reserve to halt fresh illegal mining activities.

Prior to their entry, they had captured footage of some of the armed individuals manning a barrier at the forest’s entrance.

However, upon venturing deeper into the reserve, they discovered that a group of the miners had laid an ambush in the bush.

The yet-to-be-identified victim is currently receiving medical treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

The Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve has been a hotspot for illegal mining, which continues to pose a severe threat to the country’s forest reserves and water bodies.

The Forestry Commission, in collaboration with security agencies, has been leading operations to curb the destruction of these protected areas.

Authorities are yet to comment on the attack and whether any arrests have been made.

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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