A coordinated raid by the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the Forestry Commission (FC) and 30 soldiers has disrupted unauthorized mining operations in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, located in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region.

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, the task force captured 10 earth-moving machines and a bulldozer while taking four suspects into custody in Compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve.

This enforcement effort follows an earlier intervention on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, when officers from the Forest Protection Unit (FPU) of the FC, in collaboration with the ERT, received intelligence and moved into the same area. At that time, they managed to expel 12 machines used in unlawful mining, but no arrests were made as they were outnumbered by armed individuals.

The latest sweep demonstrates the government’s increased determination to eliminate illicit mining, which continues to endanger Ghana’s protected forests and biodiversity.

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, authorities received reports that illegal miners planned to return. Acting swiftly, security forces blocked their re-entry.

However, on Saturday, March 8, 2025, another tip-off confirmed that miners had resumed excavation. Attempts to detain them were unsuccessful as the task force was outnumbered by well-armed operators who refused to leave or remove their equipment.

As a result, a larger unit was deployed, leading to the confiscation of the machinery and the arrest of four individuals. The seized equipment is being relocated to the Enchi District Assembly compound, and an official complaint has been lodged with the Enchi District Police.