Photo: Ring Leaders
A major joint anti-galamsey operation by the Forestry Commission has resulted in the arrest of 11 suspected illegal miners, including three Chinese nationals, after a dramatic pre-dawn raid in the Pranum Forest Reserve near Oda.
The operation, carried out at about 3:50 am on Sunday, December 14, 2025, involved three specialised teams drawn from the Forestry Commission offices in Juaso, Assin Fosu and Oda. Officials say the coordinated strike was aimed at dismantling organised illegal mining activities entrenched deep within the protected forest.
According to the Forestry Commission, eight Ghanaians and three Chinese nationals were arrested during the operation. Officers also seized two pickup vehicles with registration numbers GW 4974-23 and GT 4189-25, eight excavators, a control board believed to be used to operate an excavator, and an automatic pump-action gun, raising fresh concerns about the increasing militarisation of illegal mining activities.
The Ghanaian suspects were identified as Mohammed Mustapha, 25; Aminu Moro, 48; Owusu Emmanuel, 28; Raymond Opoku Agyemang, 32; Teye Joseph, 32; Oduro Emmanuel, 29; Aaron Oppong Gyebi, 36; and Isaac Apana, 32. The Chinese nationals are Jun Hunay, 42; Wen Yong Feng, 49; and Lu Zheng Zhan, 37.
In addition to the arrests, eight excavators were impounded at the site. The heavy-duty machines remain within the forest reserve, with arrangements currently underway to transport them out under armed security into official custody.
Forestry Commission sources said the volume and sophistication of the equipment uncovered point to a well-established and heavily resourced operation that had likely been active in the reserve for some time, despite repeated warnings and enforcement efforts by state authorities.
Officials said further measures are being taken to secure the affected portions of the forest and to trace all machinery and logistical support linked to the illegal operation. Police investigations are also ongoing to determine the full extent of the network involved and whether additional suspects are at large.
The Pranum Forest Reserve is among several protected areas across the country facing sustained pressure from illegal mining, which has stripped forest cover, polluted water bodies and threatened the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
The latest operation comes amid renewed public pressure on state agencies to intensify enforcement against galamsey, following widespread outrage over environmental destruction and allegations that well-resourced operators often evade accountability.
Forestry Commission officials said the arrests and seizures send a clear signal that joint operations will be sustained and expanded, as authorities step up efforts to reclaim protected forest reserves and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
All 11 suspects have been handed over to the Asante Akim Juaso District Police Command to assist with investigations and possible prosecution. The seized vehicles have meanwhile been conveyed to the Oda Forest District Office of the Forestry Commission for safekeeping, pending further action.
About The Author
