12 suspected illegal miners remanded over Bosomtwe Forest Reserve operation

Twelve suspected illegal miners have been remanded into police custody following a two-day operation conducted by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission against illegal mining activities in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region. The operation, carried out on July 31 and August 1, targeted compartments 1, 10, and 12 of the protected forest reserve.

During the exercise, authorities immobilized an excavator and seized various items allegedly used for illegal mining, including a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 water pumping machines, two power plants, two generators, and an air blower. The suspects, including Abu Naa, Adakwa Mathew, and Richard Atta, were subsequently arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court, where they were remanded into police custody and expected to reappear before the court on August 11 and 12, 2026.

One Abena Ahenkan, believed to be the alleged leader of one of the illegal mining groups, escaped during the operation and is currently being sought by authorities. The Forestry Commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s forest reserves from illegal mining, emphasizing that enforcement operations will continue targeting individuals whose activities threaten the country’s forests and other natural resources.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.