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The Forestry Commission has arrested 21 suspected illegal miners — 11 Chinese nationals and 10 Ghanaians — following a large-scale intelligence-led operation inside the Yakombo Forest Reserve in the Buipe Forest District of the Savannah Region.The swoop, carried out on Tuesday, December 2, was executed by a 51-member joint task force made up of forest guards from the Buipe and Bole Forest District offices, supported by three Rapid Response units of the Forest Services Division. The mission was aimed at flushing out illegal mining activities threatening the protected reserve.The suspects were captured in Compartments 50 and 51 of the forest, near Tuntumba in the Bole-Bamboi District, where heavy mining operations were reportedly ongoing.Established in 1974 and covering approximately 1,210 square kilometres, the Yakombo Forest Reserve is the largest forest reserve in Ghana, making the incursion a serious environmental concern.
The Chinese nationals arrested include:
Tang Shao Qi (28), He Peng (40), Zhou Qin Sar (25), Wu Xu (39), He Chuang Ye (45), Cheng Lin (40), Long Xi (32), Yang Gesheng (51), Zhang Hongzhaojie (34), Zhou Peng (39), and Wu Yujie (24).
The Ghanaian suspects are:
Alhassan Yakubu, Daniel Mba (33), Pious Kwabena (20), Emmanuel Amankra (40), Seidu Suleman (44), Sampson Akawuni (22), Thadeus Gideon (27), Mohammed Salim (21), Mohammed Kanamu (25), and Saaka Yakubu (22).
Security operatives also impounded several mining vehicles and machinery at the site, including one Toyota Hilux, two Great Wall pick-up trucks, three Howo tipper trucks, and a Man Diesel low-bed truck transporting an excavator.All suspects have since been transferred to the Damongo Regional Police Command to assist with investigations and face possible prosecution.The confiscated equipment has also been relocated to the Mole National Park for safe custody under the supervision of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.