A group of armed military officers reportedly stormed the Enchi District Assembly premises in the Western North Region on Friday and allegedly released 15 excavators that had been seized from suspected illegal miners.
Eyewitnesses described the operation as a “Rambo-style” raid carried out in broad daylight.
According to reports, the soldiers arrived with 15 low-bed trucks, surrounded the impounded excavators and instructed the District Chief Executive (DCE) to release the equipment.
The excavators form part of 35 machines seized in May last year during an operation against illegal mining in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve.
The equipment was confiscated after miners were accused of carrying out illegal mining activities that left large portions of the forest reserve degraded.
The matter is currently before the courts, with the Sefwi Wiawso High Court having granted an interlocutory injunction in favour of the forest concessionaire, Clean Jobs, restraining the release of the excavators until the substantive case is determined.
Despite the court order, the military personnel allegedly removed the excavators, claiming they were acting on “orders from above.”
The circumstances surrounding the operation remain unclear, and it is yet to be established who authorised the release of the machines.
Authorities have not officially commented on the incident.
