Forestry Commission arrests Chinese and Ghanaian nationals in major anti-galamsey raid in Yakombo Forest Reserve
A joint operation led by the Forestry Commission and security forces has resulted in the arrest of several suspects including foreign nationals suspected of illegal mining (“galamsey”) within the Yakombo Forest Reserve. The raid forms part of a nationwide intensified crackdown on unauthorized mining activities that threaten Ghana’s forests and waterways.
According to a statement from the Forestry Commission, ten individuals consisting of both Chinese and Ghanaian nationals were apprehended during the operation. Authorities confiscated excavators, mining equipment, and materials used for illicit gold extraction. The suspects are now in custody as investigations proceed.
Officials said the operation targeted multiple illegal mining camps deeply embedded within the forest reserve, following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering. The raid is part of a broader push by the government to safeguard forest reserves and water bodies from environmental degradation caused by unregulated mining.
The Forestry Commission described the arrests as a warning to other illegal miners and syndicates operating across Ghana. The Director of District Monitoring for the Commission reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to continue aggressive enforcement and pledged to destroy all illegal mining equipment confiscated during raids.
Environmental advocates have praised the raid. They assert that such decisive actions are essential to protect biodiversity, preserve water resources, and uphold the country’s environmental commitments. Illegal gold mining has been blamed for extensive deforestation, soil erosion, rivers pollution, and long-term damage to both ecology and community livelihoods. Many see this operation as a critical step toward restoring integrity to Ghana’s forest reserves.
However, experts warn that enforcement alone is not enough. They call for a comprehensive strategy that includes sustainable livelihood alternatives for mining-dependent communities, strict monitoring, regular audits, and robust prosecution of offenders to deter future infractions.
Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its full backing of the anti-galamsey agenda, urging citizens to support eradication efforts and report illegal activities. Officials have emphasized that all illegal mining operations, regardless of nationality will face the full weight of the law. As the investigation unfolds, public interest remains high. Many hope the arrests mark a turning point in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, and that recovery efforts, alongside reforestation and water-body rehabilitation programmes, will soon follow.
