Ghana’s Forestry Commission announced the arrest of 31 individuals, including 28 Chinese nationals and three Ghanaians, inside the Apamprama Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region, after thwarting what it described as an organized attempt to carry out illegal mining under the guise of “land rehabilitation.”
The Commission said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had established a camp inside the forest, claiming they held permits for land restoration activities—an approach previously used in similar cases to circumvent the law and engage in illegal mining within protected areas.
According to official data, nearly half of the Apamprama Forest Reserve has already suffered degradation, amid warnings that continued violations are accelerating deforestation and causing severe pollution of water sources.
In a related development, authorities carried out a security operation along the Birim River in the Eastern Region, resulting in the arrest of five Chinese nationals while they were mining and washing minerals directly in the river.
The Forestry Commission confirmed that its field teams deployed in Bekwai, Nkawie, Mankranso, and Dunkwa are on high alert to protect forests and reserves, stressing the need to prosecute those arrested and apply deterrent penalties to prevent similar offenses in the future.
Illegal mining in Ghana, locally known as “galamsey,” has caused extensive damage to forests and rivers, prompting successive governments to deploy joint task forces comprising the military, police, and civilian agencies to safeguard natural resources.
In October 2025, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources announced the arrest of around 1,500 people since the beginning of the year over illegal mining activities, including approximately 60 Chinese nationals across various parts of the country.
These latest arrests reflect an escalation of Ghana’s efforts to combat environmental destruction linked to illegal mining, particularly within protected areas, amid calls from the Forestry Commission for the full enforcement of legal penalties to deter any future attempts.