W/R: Taskforce raids ‘Abrewa Ni Nkrane’, sets illegal miners’ shelters ablaze

A joint operation by the Western Region Forestry Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces has dismantled a notorious illegal mining enclave known as Abrewa Ni Nkrane, located across the Subri Forest Reserve.

The dawn raid saw the taskforce torch several makeshift camps used by illegal miners, many of whom are believed to be foreign nationals.

The operation is part of an ongoing effort to protect the Subri Forest Reserve from further environmental degradation.

The reserve, once rich in biodiversity, has recently become a hotspot for illegal mining, with hundreds of hectares of vegetation already destroyed. In the first quarter of the year alone, three separate raids have been carried out in the reserve, resulting in multiple arrests, though some suspects managed to escape.

According to taskforce sources, the raid was the result of extensive covert surveillance, tip-offs from community members, and drone imagery that detected unusual land activities. These efforts led authorities to identify Abrewa Ni Nkrane as a major illegal mining hub.

The community, which lies just across the Subri Reserve, has also become a growing concern for law enforcement. Apart from illegal mining, there are increasing reports of child trafficking, child prostitution, and the sale of illicit drugs, largely fueled by the influx of foreign nationals into the area.

During the raid, several pieces of mining equipment, including chanfans and water pumping machines, were discovered and destroyed.

Nana Kwabena Bosompim, head of the Forestry Commission in the Western Region, issued a stern warning to those engaging in illegal activities within forest reserves.

“If you know you are involved in illegal mining on our water bodies or in forest reserves, advise yourself and abandon the site. We will catch up with you, and the law will deal with you,” he cautioned.

He emphasized that the Commission would not relent in its efforts and that more operations are planned to flush out illegal miners from the Subri Forest Reserve.

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