Illegal miners who invaded the Asananyo forest reserves in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region have clashed with officials of the Nkawie District Service Forest Division.
The unarmed forest officials looked on helplessly as the miners, equipped with guns, cutlasses and other deadly weapons, drove them away and continued with their unlawful mining in the forest.
Mr. Abraham Essel, the Nkawie Forestry District Service Division Manager, explained that the officials were alerted by residents about the invasion of the forest by the illegal miners, upon which they went to the forest reserves at Fahiakobo, near Keneago.
On reaching the site, five excavators were in operation, destroying farmlands and plantations.
According to the Forestry Manager, when the Rapid Response team attempted to destroy the equipment, macho-men wielding guns, cutlasses, and other deadly weapons attacked them from nowhere.
The driver of the Forestry Service Division, in an attempt to drive away to escape the attack, got injured in the process.
A complaint has since been lodged with the Manso District Police Command, Mr. Essel indicated.
