Ten galamsey operators have been detained for their illicit activities, which have severely damaged the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region’s Amansie Central District.
The 10 people, consisting of 3 Chinese and 7 Ghanaian nationals, were apprehended over the course of three days by the Rapid Response Teams from four different forest districts and the Bekwai Forest District of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission.
The Forestry Commission’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illicit mining activities (galamsey) in forest reserves across the nation included the three-day operation that took place between Wednesday and Friday, December 6 and 8, 2023.
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The illegal miners were found to be operating in seven compartments within the forest reserve, which is one of the designated red zones, according to Hugh Brown, the Executive Director of the Forestry Commission’s FSD, who made this revelation to the Daily Graphic.
He said that other items being used by the illegal miners were seized during the operation, along with two Toyota Hilux pickups registered under the license plates GT 7366-12 and 1265 A.
“In addition, 10 excavators, 19 fuel tanks, nine power plants, two chanfang machines, four motorbikes, five water pumping machines and seven wooden structures were demobilised,” he said.
According to Mr. Brown, on December 7, the Bekwai Circuit court heard the arraignment of seven of the ten suspects, namely Michael Korsah, Basit Shizu, Amadu Musah, Prince Boakye, Amedodzi Kofi, Akwasi Adu, and Shi Tiachao. The suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday, December 6.
He stated that the three individuals who were still under arrest on Thursday, December 7—Bernard Sarkodie, Li Tauhai, and Rao Shifa—appeared in court on December 8.
