Reports indicate that some unidentified illegal miners are planning to enter and mine in the Neung South Forest Reserve, in the Tarkwa District of the Western Region.

Eyewitnesses in nearby communities have sighted three excavator machines and a washing plant parked about 700 metres away from the Forest Reserve.

According to the reports, the illegal miners have mounted barriers to restrict Forestry Commission (FC) staff from accessing the Reserve.

The illegal miners blame the FC staff for looking on while one of their own was allegedly killed by the concession guards of Messrs. Kapsord Mining Limited.

Prior to the arrival of Messrs Kapsord Mining Limited, the report showed that the illegal miners dominated the area.

However, the Messrs.Kapsord Mining Limited have taken over and mounted a Security Post with their Concession Guards to protect their assigned portion.

The security post mounted according to the reports, was set ablaze by unknown person(s) following the shooting incident between the concession guards and the illegal miners around the area.

The reports indicated that heavily built armed men in camouflaged military uniform on a Toyota Pickup vehicle were seen about 100 metres away from where the barricades were mounted and drove on high speed to the Reserve.