The Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response and District Monitoring Teams have arrested 12 individuals, including three Chinese nationals and nine Ghanaians, for engaging in illegal mining activities within the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Enchi Forest District of Ghana’s Western North Region.
The arrests, which took place on March 11, 2025, were confirmed in a statement from the Public Affairs Unit of the Forestry Commission. Authorities seized an excavator and two gold detector machines from Compartments 17 and 63 of the forest reserve.
According to the statement, the three Chinese nationals—Cheng Yung, 48; Yangedon, 40; and Lengtar, 45—were found operating an excavator for illegal mining in Compartment 17. Meanwhile, the nine Ghanaian suspects—Yaw Timothy, 20; Bonye George, 20; Joseph Ayoo, 23; Tanzon Mark, 20; Kofi Salifu, 23; Legosie Francis, 20; Justin Dakora, 20; Bismark Lebesue, 23; and Boye Bedua, 26—were engaged in “dig and wash” mining in Compartment 63.
Following their capture, all suspects were handed over to the Enchi District Police Command for further investigations and possible prosecution. The Forestry Commission has also arranged for the seized excavator to be transported to the Enchi Municipal Assembly premises for safekeeping.
Joseph Appiah Frimpong, the District Manager of the Forestry Commission, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and logging within Ghana’s forest reserves. He warned that illegal operators would continue to face legal consequences if they persisted in their activities.
The Tano Anwia Forest Reserve has been a frequent target of illegal mining operations. Just days before this latest arrest, on 9 March 2025, the Forestry Commission, in collaboration with 30 military personnel, raided the reserve and seized eight excavators, one bulldozer, and a pump-action rifle from Compartments 17 and 20.
Authorities have pledged to intensify their efforts to protect Ghana’s forests from destructive mining activities that threaten the environment and biodiversity.
