A coordinated security operation led by Ghana’s Forestry Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces has dismantled a vast and illicit mining encampment deep within the Abrewa-Ninkra section of the Subri Forest Reserve, exposing a nexus of transnational crime, environmental destruction, and human trafficking.
The early morning raid on Tuesday, April 15, revealed a sprawling underground settlement with thousands of occupants many of them foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—engaged in illegal mining and various forms of criminal enterprise. Officials said the encampment, which had operated under a cloak of secrecy, had effectively transformed the once-protected forest into a lawless zone marked by rampant deforestation, polluted waterways, and illicit economic activity.
“This was not just an illegal mining site. It was a fully functioning settlement, complete with makeshift brothels, drug dens, and business centers,” said Nana Kwabena Bosompim, the Western Regional Forestry Manager, who described the site as “an eyesore” and “a devastating blow to the forest ecosystem.”
Authorities also rescued a number of young women, many reportedly victims of human trafficking who had been forced into prostitution and drug use. Several of the rescued individuals were minors and foreign nationals, adding an international dimension to the case.
Security forces, citing the overwhelming number of people—estimated at over 10,000—opted not to carry out mass arrests, instead focusing on demolishing illegal infrastructure and seizing equipment. “We came prepared to deal with about 2,000 individuals. What we encountered was five times that number,” Mr. Bosompim said. “The priority was to dismantle the structures and flush out the area.”
The operation has prompted Ghanaian authorities to commit to maintaining a security presence in the area for at least two weeks, aimed at preventing the return of illegal miners and further degradation of the reserve.
“The scale of destruction is shocking,” Mr. Bosompim added, noting that the illegal activities had rendered parts of the forest nearly irrecoverable. “We are sending a clear message: if you want to mine, do it legally. But if you encroach on protected land, you will be removed.”
The Subri Forest Reserve, one of the largest in Ghana’s Western Region, has long been targeted by illegal miners, known locally as galamsey operators. The latest operation underscores the growing complexity of illegal mining in West Africa, where environmental crime is often intertwined with broader security challenges, including human trafficking and cross-border criminal networks.
Source:TheDotNews