Twelve suspected illegal miners have been remanded into police custody after they were arrested during a two-day operation against illegal mining in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.

The operation, conducted by the Bekwai Forest District of the Forestry Commission on July 31 and August 1, targeted illegal mining activities within Compartments 1, 10 and 12 of the protected forest reserve.

During the exercise, the enforcement team immobilised an excavator and seized several items allegedly used for illegal mining, including a tricycle, seven changfan machines, 21 water pumping machines, two power plants, two generators and an air blower.

The suspects — Abu Naa, Adakwa Mathew, John Tibootey, Nurudeen Issah, Henry Peter, Ruth Agbenyo, Anthony Amadi, Sesi Mclean, Benjamin Owusu, Richard Atta, Sumaila Mohammed and Abel Nti — were subsequently arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court.

Presiding over the case, His Honour Isaac Apeatu remanded the accused persons into police custody. They are expected to reappear before the court on August 11 and 12, 2026.

The Forestry Commission also disclosed that one Abena Ahenkan, believed to be the alleged leader of one of the illegal mining groups, escaped during the operation and is currently being sought by the authorities.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana's forest reserves from illegal mining, stressing that enforcement operations would continue to target individuals whose activities threaten the country's forests and other natural resources.