A joint security operation led by the Forestry Commission and Ghana Armed Forces has dismantled a sprawling illegal mining camp in the Subri Forest Reserve’s Abrewa-Ninkra section, Western Region.
The operation revealed a disturbing network of criminal activities, including human trafficking, drug use and money laundering.
The Illegal Mining Camp
The camp, populated by nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, had been transformed into a hub for cross-border crime.
Officials described the setup as an “eyesore,” with makeshift mining structures, brothels and shelters serving as living spaces and business centers.
Environmental Impact
Nana Kwabena Bosompim, Western Regional Forestry Manager, highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by the illegal activities, including¹:
- Polluted Rivers: Rivers in the area have been polluted due to the mining activities.
- Destroyed Vegetation: The vegetation in the forest reserve has been significantly destroyed.
- Deforestation: The operation revealed massive deforestation, with approximately 0.6 hectares of forest cover cleared in one compartment alone.
Enforcement Action
A combined security team will remain in the area for at least two weeks to prevent the miners from returning.
This operation is part of a broader effort to combat illegal mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.
In a similar operation on March 20, 2025, a Rapid Response Team from the Takoradi Forest District arrested one suspect and seized an excavator, while many others fled the scene.
Arrests and Seizures
In a previous raid on a galamsey camp in the Subri Forest Reserve, four suspects were arrested, and five pump-action guns, 77 rounds of ammunition, and three excavators were seized.
The suspects were believed to be backed by influential figures who supported their illegal mining activities.
