Illegal miners have taken over the Jimirah Forest in the Nkawie Forestry District of the Ashanti Region, with support from armed groups who are keeping forest officials away.
Since the start of the year, staff from the Forestry Commission have been unable to enter the area because of threats from these gunmen protecting the miners.
It wasn’t until the military stepped in that the officials were finally able to visit the forest and assess the destruction caused.
Failed Attempts and Escalation
According to the Nkawie District Manager of the Forestry Commission, Abraham Essel, efforts made in January to remove the illegal miners were thwarted by the presence of weapon-wielding guards.
“We tried to mobilise to come and flush them out, but we realised they were conducting the operations under the protection of thugs who were wielding offensive weapons, and we could not access this place,” he recounted.
Early Thursday morning, a group of soldiers was sent to carry out a special operation in the Jimirah Forest. But by the time they got there, the illegal miners had already escaped, taking much of their equipment with them. The machines left behind, including excavators, had been shut down.
Following tracks, the team discovered eight excavators hidden in the nearby Adobewora community.
The Acting Executive Director of the Forestry Commission, Lydia Opoku, and the Ashanti Regional Manager, Clement Omari, were both present and took part in the operation.
Environmental Devastation
Illegal mining has led to the destruction of vast portions of forest cover. Land has been haphazardly dug up, and vegetation stripped in the search for gold. Among the affected areas is a mature plantation owned by Tepa Sawmill, a private company. “They established the plantation so many years ago—a Cinderella Plantation—and the plantation is matured for harvesting,” said Mr Essel.
“The Forestry Commission Headquarters granted us authorisation to value the trees for the company to fell, but we couldn’t access the place because of the illegal miners.” Although a full assessment is yet to be completed, the Commission estimates the affected trees to be worth millions of cedis. Some trees had been harvested, but the majority were reportedly destroyed.
What’s even more worrying is the harm caused to the River Punpuni, which flows through the forest. The river used to be an important water source for farmers in the area, but illegal mining has polluted it with silt, making the water dirty and unsafe to use.
According to Mr Essel, “The whole ecosystem has lost its resilience and health. The activities of the illegal miners are greatly impacting the sustainable forest practices we do.”
Call for a Military Base in the Forest
The military has supported the Forestry Commission in prior operations, including one in February. In total, nine excavators have been confiscated during joint missions, though no arrests have yet been made.
Mr Essel is now calling for a permanent military presence in the area.
“It has gone beyond the Forestry Commission. It has become a security matter because, as a Forest officer, you come to the field, you don’t have a catapult to protect yourself, and these illegal miners are protected by heavily built and weapon-wielding thugs,” he lamented.
“Looking at the gravity of the situation, we will advise or suggest that we have some permanent military presence within this enclave so that at any point in time, there will be their presence on the ground,” he insisted.
Regional Manager Clement Omari, who was part of the forest visit, fully supported the call for a military base.
Appeal to Local Communities
The Commission has also called on local communities, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to support efforts in protecting the forest reserves.
“We are very surprised that this time round the communities don’t seem to support our cause because the excavators, when they move them, are parked in the communities. The excavators come into the communities at night, and the community members can help us,” Mr Essel said.
Acting Executive Director Lydia Opoku echoed the need for community cooperation, stressing that forest protection is a shared responsibility.
