A major anti-illegal mining operation at the Atewa Range Forest in the Eastern Region has led to the arrest of 24 suspects, including several minors from many parts of the country particularly the Northern belt.
The operation carried out by a 30-member Rapid Response Team drawn from six teams of the Forestry Commission took place at about 3:30 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2026, at Sagyimase within the Atewa Range Forest.
The dawn swoop targeted illegal miners operating deep within the forest reserve.
According to officials, while 24 suspects were apprehended, several others managed to escape upon the arrival of the task force.
During the operation, 16 water pumping machines used for mining activities were destroyed, while 52 makeshift poly-sheet tent structures believed to have served as shelters for the miners were burned down. Two additional water pumping machines were seized and transported to the district office as exhibits.
The suspects arrested are:Dana Kebien, 41, from Kintampo, Michael Banjipoi, 18, from Prang, Ohene Kwaku Sarong, 31, from Dodowa, Bismark Tinaa, 22, Aworowora Nyabriseh, 18, from Navrongo and Fawu Ibrahim, 35, from Tumu
The rest are Vinyaku Batu, 19, from Nandom
,Yaw Matthew Betumba, 22, from Tatale
Akyekoga Patrick, 24, from Navrongo
Sung, 15, from Wa, Shahadu Karim, 35, from Walewale, Asumadu Bismark, 42, from Bonwire ,Daniel Akwasi, 20, from Bole
Selas Lyn, 23, from Nkawie, Leh Francis, 25, from Nandom, Elliasu Lewom, 17, from Bomboan, Kabi Solomon, 8, from Nandom
Tina Godfred, 14, from Saboba,Sansa Paul, 17, from Wa,Eric Matan, 32, from Salaga
,Abass Usman, 17, from Pusiga,Abubakar Rashid, 24, from Kintampo ,Seku Stephen, 37, from Asiakwa, and Abraham Tetteh, 33, from Somanya
The suspects are currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office and are expected to be handed over to the District Police for further investigations and prosecution.
The presence of minors among those arrested has raised fresh concerns over child involvement in illegal mining activities.
An eight-year-old and multiple teenagers were among those detained, prompting calls for deeper investigations into how children are being drawn into such dangerous operations.
The Atewa Range remains one of Ghana’s most ecologically significant forest reserves, serving as a critical water source and biodiversity hotspot.
Recently,an environmental activist group, Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape ,held a press conference to raise alarm of invasion of the forest by dozens of illegal miners who have established camps in deep forest mining with impunity .
The group called on security agencies to act immediately to save the forest from continuous destruction.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
