In response to growing alarm over environmental devastation in Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area, a joint enforcement operation involving the various Forestry Commission Divisions has destroyed 78 Changfan machines and 106 water pumping units across the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve in a three-day swoop that also resulted in 11 arrests.
The operation, conducted by the Takoradi Forestry Services Division (FSD) in collaboration with the Wildlife Division from Ankasa Forest Reserve, targeted illegal mining hotspots spanning from Tumentu to Princess Town, delivering what conservationists describe as a “significant blow” to galamsey operations threatening the ecologically sensitive enclave.
The enforcement comes just days after the Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Akwasi Agyeman IX, issued an emotional appeal over the devastating impact of illegal mining on the Greater Cape Three Points area, warning that chemical pollution from galamsey operations was discolouring coastal waters, driving fish deeper into the sea, and threatening the newly established Marine Protected Area (MPA).
The operational team comprised personnel from multiple units, including Range Managers, Forest Guards, Youth for Change (YFC) personnel, Rapid Response Team members, and Wildlife Division officers, demonstrating a multi-agency approach to tackling the illegal mining menace.
The three-day operation, which ran from Sunday, July 26, to Wednesday, July 29, 2026, targeted illegal mining sites across the forest reserve. On the first day, the team intercepted active mining sites near Tumentu, destroying 22 Changfan machines, 18 water pumping units, and four rubber tents.
The second day saw intensified operations with the destruction of 41 Changfan machines, 58 water pumping units, and 12 rubber tents, leading to the arrest of nine suspects who were handed over to the Central Police Station in Takoradi.
On the final day, the team patrolled near Princess Town, destroying 15 Changfan machines, 30 water pumping units, and three rubber tents, with two additional suspects arrested and handed over to the Sekondi Police.
While commending the taskforce for the swift operations, marine conservation expert Stephen Kankam, Director of Hen Mpoano, has insisted on the establishment of permanent protection camps within the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve to ensure continuous law enforcement presence.
He urged the government to sustain the crackdown on illegal mining activities, fearing that any lapses could trigger a relapse.
Kankam warned that without sustained intervention, the MPA’s potential to restore fish stocks could be rendered meaningless. He stressed that the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, its adjourning mangrove ecosystems, and the rivers that flow through the area are all ecologically connected to the marine protected area, and therefore must be managed as one integrated ecosystem.
Challenges Persist Despite Enforcement Gains
While the three-day operation represents a significant achievement, challenges remain. Illegal miners have been known to return to cleared sites shortly after enforcement teams depart, raising questions about the sustainability of temporary operations.
The Cape Three Points Forest Reserve has become a battleground for illegal miners, with heavy machinery operating deep within the environmentally sensitive enclave. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has conducted multiple raids in recent months, but the problem persists.
The 11 suspects arrested during the operation now face potential prosecution under Ghana’s mining and environmental laws, which carry significant penalties for illegal mining activities in protected areas.
Source: 3news.com
