Bekwai branch of Forestry commission of Ghana on Friday caused the arrest of three suspected illegal miners operating at Jakobu-Abrokyire in the Amansie Central District of Ashanti region.
‘They were many but because we couldn’t swim to arrest them, we only got three who are currently in custody at the Ashanti Bekwai police station ’’, Mr.George Agbenowoshi, the District Forest Manager said.
Speaking to the New Crusading guide after the arrest, Mr.George Abgenowoshi revealed that, they had a tip off that some people were illegally mining in one of the forest reserves near the Oda River but all attempts to arrest them proved futile till last Friday.
He explained that, the suspects who are in police custody now have caused a lot of forest destruction by illegally cutting down trees and polluting the water body.
Mr. Abgenowoshi told this paper that the activities of the illegal miners have affected the life of the Oda forest reserved at Abrokyire in the Amansie West district assembly and it is also depriving the residents around the Oda river a source of clean drinking water.
“In spite of all efforts by government in waging war against illegal mining, some people are still on site polluting water bodies and farm lands, including forest reserves”, he said.
On why the commission didn’t involve institution like the police, military and the district assembly but rather using the forestry commission Rapid Response Team to effect the operation which led to the arrest of the three Ghanaian illegal miners,Mr. George Agbenowoshi told this reporter that he had his own personal reasons why they did a solo job.
“We went and laid arm bush for a whole night to ensure we arrest those miners who were still on site operating in spite of government decision to halt illegal mining in the country”, he added.
Though the operation was silent, he said, but the forestry commission was very successful in arresting the suspects through the help of the assemblyman and one opinion leader from a town called Abrokyire where the activities were going on.
The suspects will appear before the court today.