The Western Regional Forestry Commission, led by Regional Director Nana Poku Bosompim, has arrested 26 illegal miners and destroyed their equipment at Wassa Essaman in the Wassa East District of the Western Region.
The operation forms part of renewed efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities that continue to devastate forest reserves.
The Anti-Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission swooped on miners operating within forest reserves at Wassa Essaman.
The 26 suspects were apprehended while actively engaged in illegal mining, which has been destroying forest cover and polluting water bodies.
The task force also dismantled an entire galamsey settlement that harboured illegal activities. Several mining equipment, including changfan machines, water pumps, vehicles, and other tools used for the operations, were destroyed.
The equipment was set ablaze and dismantled to prevent the miners from returning to the site, a strategy the Commission says is necessary to deter recalcitrant offenders.
According to the Commission, the suspects are currently in custody and are expected to be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
Mr. Poku Bosompim emphasized that the operation will be sustained to protect forest reserves in Wassa East and other hotspots in the region that have come under heavy attack.
Addressing the media, Mr. Bosompim described Wassa Essaman as one of the most dangerous illegal mining hotspots.
He revealed that despite raiding the area about three times this year and dismantling excavators and changfans, miners persistently return.
However, to permanently halt these activities, he called for stronger collaboration with the military, requesting at least 100 to 150 personnel to support the 30 rapid response forest guards in maintaining a sustained presence on-site for weeks.
