A rapid response team has arrested 24 suspects for engaging in illegal mining activities in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve.
The operation involved six security and enforcement units drawn from across the country. Authorities deployed the team as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Officials say the suspects were actively mining within the protected forest reserve, an area known for its rich biodiversity and importance to Ghana’s water resources.
The Atewa Forest has long faced threats from illegal mining, which continues to cause deforestation, water pollution, and destruction of wildlife habitats.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the suspects, but investigations are ongoing. The suspects are expected to be processed and put before court in accordance with the law.
The arrests form part of a broader national strategy to clamp down on illegal mining and protect the environment from further degradation.
Government and environmental agencies have repeatedly warned that activities in protected reserves like Atewa pose serious risks to ecological sustainability and public health.
