In a major pre-dawn operation aimed at reclaiming one of Ghana’s most ecologically sensitive forest reserves from the grip of illegal mining, 24 suspected illegal miners have been arrested in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve following a coordinated anti-galamsey swoop by the Forestry Commission’s rapid response unit.
The operation, which took place at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Monday, April 26, 2026, targeted illegal mining camps deep within the Atewa Range Forest at Sagyimase, where unauthorized miners are believed to have established makeshift settlements and mounted extensive operations in defiance of environmental protection laws.
The carefully executed raid involved 30 officers drawn from six specialized rapid response teams across the country, mobilized by the Forestry Commission as part of intensified national efforts to flush out illegal miners whose activities continue to devastate Ghana’s forests, pollute water bodies, and threaten biodiversity hotspots.
Officials described the operation as one of the most significant anti-illegal mining interventions in the Atewa enclave in recent months. While 24 suspects were apprehended at the site, several others reportedly escaped under the cover of darkness upon sensing the arrival of the enforcement team.
The raid uncovered a sprawling illegal mining encampment deep within the protected forest, complete with machinery, temporary shelters, and equipment used for illicit mineral extraction.
In a decisive move to cripple operations, officers destroyed 16 water pumping machines believed to be central to the miners’ activities whilst an additional two pumping machines were confiscated and transported to the Kyebi District Office as evidence for prosecution.
Authorities also burned down 52 makeshift poly-sheet tent structures, which served as sleeping quarters, operational bases, and temporary camps for miners who had effectively carved out a hidden settlement in the heart of the reserve.
Environmental observers say the scale of the illegal settlement points to the growing sophistication and boldness of galamsey operators, who are increasingly moving deeper into forest reserves to evade detection while inflicting severe ecological destruction.
The suspects, currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office of the Forestry Commission, are expected to be handed over to the District Police Command for further investigations and eventual prosecution.
Minors Found at Illegal Mining Site Raises Alarm
One of the most disturbing revelations from the operation was the presence of children among the suspects, including an eight-year-old child, raising serious concerns about child exploitation, unsafe migration, and the increasing normalization of illegal mining as a livelihood activity for vulnerable families.
The discovery has sparked urgent calls for a broader investigation into whether minors are being trafficked, coerced, or exposed to dangerous working conditions in illegal mining enclaves.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s presence at the site, including whether the minor was accompanying a guardian or was directly involved in mining-related activities.
Atewa Under Siege
The latest crackdown comes amid growing public anxiety over renewed encroachment into the Atewa Range Forest, one of Ghana’s most important ecological treasures and a critical water catchment area that feeds major rivers, including the Densu, Birim, and Ayensu, which provide water to millions of Ghanaians.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that unchecked illegal mining in Atewa could lead to irreversible damage to forest ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and widespread contamination of vital freshwater sources.
Only weeks ago, the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, a coalition of environmental activists and community stakeholders, held a press conference calling on security agencies to urgently dismantle illegal mining camps springing up deep within the forest reserve.
The group warned that dozens of miners had erected tents and established semi-permanent camps in remote sections of the forest, turning protected lands into active galamsey zones.
Monday’s operation appears to be a direct response to those concerns and signals renewed resolve by state authorities to reclaim protected forest lands from illegal occupation.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
