Three Chinese men and seven Ghanaians have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region.

According to a report by the Daily Graphic, the illegal miners were discovered operating in the Oda River Forest Reserve, where they were arrested by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission.

The Forestry Commission's three-day operation was a key part of the government's efforts to address the problem of illegal mining in the country.

The Executive Director of the Forest Service Division, Hugh Brown told the newspaper that the illegal miners were operating in seven different compartments of the Oda River Forest Reserve, which has been designated as a 'red zone' due to the high level of illegal mining activity.

“In addition, 10 excavators, 19 fuel tanks, 9 power plants, 2 'chanfang' machines, 4 motorbikes, 5 water pumping machines and 7 wooden structures were demolished,” he said.

According to the Executive Director, seven of the suspects- Michael Korsah, Basit Shizu, Amadu Musah, Prince Boakye, Amedodzi Kofi, Akwasi Adu and Shi Tiachao appeared before the court on December 7 after they were arrested on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

The remaining seven, Bernard Sarkodie, Li Tauhai and Rao Shifa appeared before the court on December 8 after their arrest on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

“All ten suspects have been remanded into police custody for one week,” he stated.

The arrest of the illegal miners in the Oda River Forest Reserve comes just one week after the arrest of Aisha Huang, a Chinese national accused of engaging in illegal mining activities.