Fresh attempt to remove seized galamsey excavators in Aowin sparks controversy

A fresh attempt to remove dozens of excavators seized from illegal miners operating in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Aowin Municipality of the Western Region has sparked controversy, despite a High Court injunction restraining the movement of the equipment. The excavators were among 34 machines confiscated during a military operation in May last year after armed illegal miners invaded the forest reserve. On Friday, July 3, two soldiers, identified as Warrant Officer Class One Dumfer and Warrant Officer Class Two Oteng from the Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, reportedly arrived at the Enchi Municipal Assembly to take custody of the excavators. They allegedly insisted they had been directed to move the machines for a government project, despite being shown a High Court injunction.

The operation, undertaken with the support of concession holder Clean Jobs Resources Limited, led to the arrest of 15 suspects, with the criminal case currently pending before the court. Lawyers for Clean Jobs Resources Limited secured the interlocutory injunction on June 26, 2026, to prevent the release of the excavators pending the hearing of the substantive matter. Reports indicate repeated attempts to release the excavators to the miners on grounds that they would be used for development projects. Similar attempts have also reportedly been made to remove other excavators confiscated from illegal mining operations and currently being held in Kumasi, Samreboi, and Enchi.