The Forestry Commission has arrested 12 suspected illegal miners and impounded three excavators during an operation at the South Formangso Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
The operation, conducted on Sunday, September 13, 2026, also led to the seizure of six water-pumping machines, while six Chanfang machines found at the site were destroyed.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Juaso Police for further investigation.
The operation followed the detection of illegal mining activities within the reserve by personnel from the Ashanti Regional and Juaso District offices of the Forestry Commission.
The personnel subsequently mobilised the Commission’s Rapid Response Team to the area.
According to the Juaso District Forestry Manager, Isaac Boamah Amanquah, the illegal miners were using heavy-duty equipment and their activities posed a security risk to forestry personnel.
“Early morning of 13th September 2026, my field officer, who is in charge of the South Formangso Forest Reserve, informed me about illegal miners entering the forest reserve to a community called Kagyebi Romanuso to do their normal illegal activities,” he said.
Mr Amanquah said he quickly mobilised personnel to the area, where they found three excavators being used by the miners.
The excavators were subsequently transported to the Forestry Commission’s Range Quarters at Asankare.
He said the illegal mining activities had also made patrols within the reserve difficult due to uncovered pits left behind by the miners.
“Their activities are a threat to our forestry staff. Because when they dig the holes, they don’t cover them, and it makes patrolling very difficult for us, and the area destroyed is estimated to be two hectares,” he said.
The Forestry Commission said the latest operation was not the first time illegal miners had entered the South Formangso Forest Reserve.
According to the Commission, the Juaso District of the Forestry Services Division conducted a similar operation last year, during which makeshift structures and equipment belonging to illegal miners were destroyed.
It said the miners later returned to the protected area after reshaping an old access road, which they used to transport Chanfang machines and excavators into the reserve.
Mr Amanquah has warned persons planning to engage in illegal mining within the reserve to stay away, stressing that the Forestry Commission is maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to activities that degrade protected forest areas.
“To me all those who have intentions to enter the reserve to carry out illegal mining operations, I want them to know that the Juaso Forest District, our eyes are on them 24/7. And anybody who will be caught will face the full rigorous law,” he said.
The Forestry Commission has meanwhile intensified patrols and monitoring operations in the area as part of efforts to prevent further incursions and protect the South Formangso Forest Reserve.