The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered a targeted operation against illegal miners operating in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve.
This reserve is the same location where journalists from The Multimedia Group were attacked last year while documenting environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
As part of the ongoing operation, police have arrested four suspects and seized four excavators. However, authorities have yet to confirm whether these individuals are linked to the previous assault on the journalists.
Illegal mining activities in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve have intensified since 2023. The situation escalated in 2024 when four journalists investigating the destruction were abducted and assaulted by armed men allegedly affiliated with Edelmetallum Resources Limited.
The forest reserve, which forms part of a government reforestation initiative, has suffered extensive damage. Newly planted trees have been destroyed, and tributaries of the Ankobra River polluted, sparking concerns among environmentalists. Experts warn that the contamination poses a serious threat to water sources for nearby communities.
The police crackdown follows mounting public pressure to protect Ghana’s forest reserves from illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which has caused widespread environmental degradation across the country.
The IGP has assured the public that the police will continue operations to safeguard protected areas and ensure that offenders are brought to justice. Investigations into the arrested suspects and any possible connections to past incidents are still ongoing.
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