The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Axim Eric Essien, has expressed shock over the reported invasion of the Draw River Forest Reserve by an unidentified illegal miner.

This follows a JoyNews report revealing that an unidentified miner has encroached on the Draw River Forest Reserve, one of Ghana’s key protected forests located in Gwira Banso in the Nzema East District of the Western Region.

The report indicates that part of the forest has been cleared, and excavators have been moved to the site, signaling the potential start of illegal mining activities that could lead to significant forest degradation.

In response, the management of Betterland Ghana Services, the legal concession holders in the forest, has denied any knowledge of the invasion.

The MCE for Nzema East, in an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on August 27, stated that he was unaware of any illegal mining activities in the forest reserve.

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“What I know is that a certain company called Better Land has the mining lease, but they have not started work yet. But I don’t know any miner over there; I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

Mr. Essien further mentioned that he first learned of the situation through the JoyNews report and plans to inform the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) about the development.

He assured that he would visit the site with management and the police to investigate the situation and provide an update later.