A major anti-illegal mining operation at the Atewa Range Forest Reserve has resulted in the arrest of 24 suspects, including minors, in a dawn swoop that has renewed alarm over child involvement in illegal mining.
The operation, carried out by a 30-member Rapid Response Team from the Forestry Commission of Ghana, took place at about 3:30 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2026, at Sagyimase deep within the forest reserve.
Dawn Swoop Targets Illegal Mining Camps
Officials say the early morning operation targeted illegal miners operating deep inside the protected forest.
While 24 suspects were arrested, several others reportedly fled into nearby bushes upon the arrival of the task force.
During the raid, authorities destroyed 16 water pumping machines used in mining operations and burned 52 makeshift poly-sheet tent structures believed to have served as shelters for the miners. Two additional pumping machines were seized and transported to the district office as exhibits.
The suspects are currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office and are expected to be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and prosecution.
Presence of Children Raises Fresh Alarm
The operation has drawn national concern after it emerged that several minors, including an eight-year-old child, were among those arrested.
Multiple teenagers from different parts of the country were also detained, raising troubling questions about how children are being drawn into dangerous, illegal mining activities.
Authorities say the discovery highlights a growing pattern of young people being recruited into illegal mining camps, particularly from communities in Ghana’s northern belt.
Child protection advocates are now calling for deeper investigations into possible trafficking, coercion, or exploitation networks behind the involvement of minors in illegal mining.
Environmental Concerns Intensify
The Atewa Range Forest Reserve is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most ecologically significant forest reserves.
The forest serves as a major water source and a biodiversity hotspot, supporting thousands of livelihoods and ecosystems across the region.
Environmental group Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape recently warned that dozens of illegal miners had invaded the forest and established camps deep within protected zones.
The group called on security agencies to act swiftly to prevent irreversible destruction of the forest and protect critical water resources.
Renewed Pressure to Save Atewa
The latest arrests signal intensified efforts by authorities to combat illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, which continues to threaten Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
With minors now found among suspects, stakeholders say the fight against illegal mining must also address poverty, child protection, and organised recruitment networks fueling the crisis.
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are expected to pursue additional suspects who escaped during the raid.
By paqmedagh/Peter Quao Adattor
