Galamsey: 12 remanded for operating in Bosomtwe Forest Reserve

Twelve suspected illegal miners were remanded into police custody following their arrest during a two-day anti-galamsey operation on July 31 and August 1 in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region. The operation, carried out by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission, targeted illegal mining activities in Compartments 1, 10, and 12 of the protected forest reserve. During the exercise, an excavator was immobilised, and several pieces of equipment were seized, including a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 water pumps, two power plants, two generators, and an air blower.

The suspects - Abu Naa, Adakwa Mathew, John Tibootey, Nurudeen Issah, Henry Peter, Ruth Agbenyo, Anthony Amadi, Sesi Mclean, Benjamin Owusu, Richard Atta, Sumaila Mohammed, and Abel Nti - were arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court. Presiding judge, His Honour Isaac Apeatu, remanded the accused persons into police custody, and they are expected to reappear before the court on August 11 and 12, 2026. The Forestry Commission also disclosed that a suspect identified as Abena Ahenkan, believed to be the leader of one of the illegal mining groups, escaped during the operation and is currently being sought by security agencies. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country's forest reserves and said it would continue to intensify enforcement operations against illegal mining.