Ten individuals have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities within the Boin Forest Reserve in the Aowin Municipality of Ghana’s Western North Region.
The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by the Enchi Forest Division and military personnel tasked with protecting the country’s natural resources. The suspects were apprehended in a section of the forest near the Ivory Coast border—an area increasingly exploited by illegal miners due to its mineral wealth and challenging terrain.
Enchi Forest Division Manager, Joe Appiah Frimpong, confirmed the arrests and said the individuals have been handed over to the police at Enchi for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Mr. Frimpong noted that the operation is part of a broader campaign to crack down on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which continues to threaten Ghana’s forests, rivers, and farmlands. He warned that the Enchi Forest Division, in collaboration with security forces, will intensify efforts to protect forest reserves from further destruction.
“The integrity of our forest lands is non-negotiable. We will not relent in our duty to safeguard them,” he stated.
The Boin Forest Reserve, like many others across the country, has come under severe pressure in recent years due to illegal mining activities.
