Over 50 acres of Tano Anwia Forest reserved destroyed by illegal miners

Following the recent clash between two illegal mining groups in the Tano Anwia Forest in the Aowin municipality of the Western North Region, Tv3 news team, accompanied by a taskforce from the Divisional Council on Friday, January 24 visited the forest to assess the extent of destruction.

We observed alarming degradation, with over 50 acres of the forest reserve destroyed. Though none of the miners was on site, there were two Excavators and new Chanfan machines under installation. This highlights the urgent need for swift action against illegal mining in the country.

Our next stop was at Enchi Office of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission. Felix Badebangna Ansie is the Deputy District Manager.

He called on all stakeholders to safeguard Ghana’s forest reserves, emphasizing the need to protect these vital resources.

“We urge all stakeholders, including chiefs and hunters, to intervene if they witness anyone engaging in unauthorized activities. Specifically, we ask that they stop individuals using metal detectors or indiscriminately cutting down trees, as these actions do not comply with the established rules and regulations,” he said.

This incident has brought to the forefront the devastating consequences of illegal mining, including environmental degradation and social unrest.

The Deputy District Manager of the Forestry Commission in the Aowin municipality Felix Badebangna Ansie, is calling for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to protect Ghana’s forest reserves.

According to Felix, on January 18, they were attacked by illegal miners in the Tano Anwia forest while attempting to halt their operations.

The confrontation turned violent, resulting in the illegal miners severing the hand of one of the officers from the Rapid Response Team.

“We’ve taken initial action, but our team was brutally attacked by illegal miners. They suffered severe injuries, including one officer whose hand was cut off, and were disarmed and arrested. This incident occurred on January 18. However, in a surprising turn of events, two political activists arrived at the scene on Wednesday, sparking chaos, and the police have since intervened and taken control,” he said.

When asked about the portion of the forest allocated to a mining company, Felix Badebangna Ansie stated that “Yes, that area belongs to Clean Jobs Ghana Limited. They have obtained all the necessary permits, including mining lease permits, Environmental Protection Agency permits, and entry permits, to mine the area. Legally, the Tano Anwia forest reserve is allocated to Clean Jobs Ghana Limited.”

This comes on the heels of a clash between two illegal mining groups in the Tano Anwia Forest in the Aowin municipality of the Western North Region, despite a ban on all forms of mining by the Aowin traditional council.

The ban on all forms of mining on its lands by the Aowin Traditional Council has had little impact on some individuals who have infiltrated the Tano Anwia forest, destroying large concessions of the forest reserves.

On Tuesday, January 21, another group of illegal miners arrived at the same site, resulting in a violent confrontation leading to the loss of two lives with others injured from gun wounds.

The Enchi Government Hospital was the initial point of care for those injured from the clash. Dr. Emmanuel Coomson, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, describes the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims.

“Three victims were brought in, one of whom was deceased upon arrival. The police investigated, and after conducting an autopsy, we released the body to the family. The second victim’s injuries were minor, and the police transferred him to the regional command in Sefwi Wiaso. The third victim remains in our care, having sustained severe bullet wounds that affected his brain and right eye. He urgently requires specialist care, and we’ve prepared a referral letter and informed the family to transfer him to Komfo Anokye Hospital.”

Meanwhile, some suspected illegal miners have been apprehended and are currently helping the Sefwi Wiaso Regional Police Command with investigations.

The post Over 50 acres of Tano Anwia Forest reserved destroyed by illegal miners first appeared on 3News.

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