The Manager of Nkawie District of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry has cautioned miners to put an end to their activities since they would not succeed with their illegal mining operations in the district due to measures put in place to topple them.
According to Mr. Abraham Essel, since the illegal miners have resolved to mine in their forest reserves there was no way the personnel of Nkawie District of the Forest Services Division would rest on their oars for their activities to prevail in the communities.
Mr. Abraham Essel gave the stern warning when 13 suspected illegal miners were arrested in the Jimmirah forest reserve which is currently under afforestation management of a Private management through the Public-Private Partnership agreement for some years now.
He indicated that the 13 suspected illegal miners who have been remanded into Police custody were arrested excavating the forest reserve at Amangoase in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti Region with pick axe, shovels and other implements through the support of a handy gold searching machine.
He indicated that the suspects who are not native of the communities normally come into the forest reserve in about thirty to forty in number and usually at nights armed with weapons preferably entering unapproved routs.
Mr. Abraham Essel speaking to the media, commended the people of Amangoase for their support in arresting the suspects and also protecting the forest reserve adding that they are worthy of emulation to other communities dwelling among forest reserves in the country.
He therefore warned that the Nkwaie Forest Division through the support of their abled forest guards and supportive communities would ensure that the illegal miners and their operations would never succeed especially those mining in the forest reserves. The 13 suspects on Police remand would reappear on 6th August, 2024.
On his part, the Concession Manager of Plantation limited at Jimmira reserve Extension of Nkawie district at Amangoase Mr. Benjamin Gyedu also recounted of the menace the operations of the illegal miners were posing to the growth of the trees.
Mr. Benjamin Gyedu insisted that the operations of the miners were detrimental to the extent that the trees which were six years old were being uprooted for the purposes of illegal mining activities.
He bemoaned that their activities needed to be restrained else the investment in the plantation projects would come to nothing adding that the investment made over the years must benefit the general good of the country.
