A combined team of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) members from the Forestry Commission (FC) and 30 military men have stormed the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region, and in the process seized nine excavators, one bulldozer and four persons reported arrested in Compartment 17 and 20, on Sunday, 9th March 2025.
Before this operation, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, operational staff from the Enchi Forest District of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the FC, together with the Rapid Response Team, upon a tip-off, stormed the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve and drove out 12 excavators that were undertaking illegal mining operations.
The FC team was unable to effect any arrest because they were outnumbered and the miners were armed.
On Thursday, 6th March 2025, based on an intelligence report that illegal miners were planning to return to the Forest Reserve, the team returned to the Forest and prevented re-entry by the illegal miners. On Saturday, 8th March 2025, the team, upon a tip-off that the illegal miners had returned to the Reserve, went there to effect arrest but once again, they were outnumbered and the miners were heavily armed and refused to remove the excavators from the Reserve.
This invasion was widely reported on social media. Subsequently, the joint team was dispatched to the Reserve to effect arrest and seize the excavators.
The seized equipment is being evacuated to the Enchi District Assembly premises. A formal complaint has been made to the Enchi District Police Command.
Source: Salaamat Kuukua Paintsil
