Police launch raid on illegal miners in Asenanyo Forest Reserve

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered a targeted operation against illegal miners operating in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve.

This is the same area where a news team with The Multimedia Group journalists was attacked last year while documenting environmental destruction.

In the ongoing raid, police have arrested four suspects and seized four excavators, though authorities have not confirmed if these individuals are connected to the previous assault on journalists.

The Asenanyo Forest Reserve has faced continuous illegal mining activities since 2023.

The situation escalated in 2024 when four journalists investigating the destruction were abducted and assaulted by armed men allegedly working for Edelmetallum Resources Limited.

The reserve, part of a government reforestation initiative, has suffered significant damage, with newly planted trees destroyed and tributaries of the Ankobra River polluted by mining operations. Environmentalists warn the contamination threatens water supplies for surrounding communities.

This police action follows growing pressure to protect Ghana’s forest reserves from illegal mining activities, known locally as “galamsey,” which have caused widespread ecological damage across the country.

The IGP has pledged continued operations to safeguard protected areas and bring perpetrators to justice. Investigations into the arrested suspects and their possible connections to previous incidents are ongoing.

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