Twenty-four suspected illegal miners were arrested on Monday, April 28, following a dawn operation by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) at the Atewa Range Forest in the Eastern Region.

The coordinated swoop began at approximately 3:30 a.m. at Sagyimase, a community bordering the forest reserve. The operation, which involved 30 RRT personnel drawn from six different teams across the country, aimed to flush out individuals engaged in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

Key Outcomes of the Operation:

- Arrests: 24 suspects were apprehended and are currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office before being handed over to the Ghana Police Service. Several other suspects managed to escape into the dense forest during the raid.

- Destruction of Equipment: To prevent immediate re-entry, security personnel destroyed various tools of the trade. Sixteen water pumping machines were burnt, and 52 makeshift poly-sheet tents used as operational camps were set ablaze.

- Seizures: Two additional water pumping machines were seized and transported to the district office to be used as exhibits in the upcoming investigation. Environmental Significance

The Atewa Range Forest is one of Ghana's most critical and sensitive ecological zones, serving as a vital watershed for major rivers that provide water to millions of people, including parts of Accra. Environmental advocacy groups, such as A Rocha Ghana, have long campaigned against both illegal galamsey and proposed legal mining in the area, citing irreversible threats to biodiversity and water security.

This latest operation reflects the ongoing efforts of the Forestry Commission and the National Anti-Illegal Mining task forces to combat the persistent encroachment on protected forest reserves, which continues to threaten Ghana's natural resources despite repeated enforcement actions.