File photo of some illegal miners at a mining site
A joint security operation led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, has resulted in the arrest of 73 illegal miners, including infants, at the Tilli Forest Reserve, which spans the Nabdam and Bawku West Districts.
The raid, conducted on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, followed reports of foreign encroachment into the protected area. Security personnel, comprising police, military, and immigration officers, seized mining equipment, including air compressors, drilling machines, motorbikes, and gold-processing tools.
Among those arrested were 27 Togolese, two Burkinabes, and 41 Ghanaians.
Akamugri stated that the operation was prompted by a formal complaint from Naba Sigri Bewong, the Paramount Chief of Sakoti in the Nabdam District. The chief had raised concerns during a February 20, 2025, meeting about illegal miners, particularly foreign nationals, encroaching on the reserve.
“Based on this information, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) deemed it necessary to verify and take appropriate action,” the minister explained.
The operation uncovered extensive environmental damage, with illegal miners operating directly in the Red Volta River and along its banks. The destruction included significant deforestation, caused by makeshift camps, domestic activities, and underground mining.
“The Red Volta, which connects to the White Volta, has suffered severe environmental degradation due to these illegal activities,” Hon. Akamugri lamented.
The minister reiterated Ghana’s strict prohibition on mining in protected forest reserves, stressing that such areas are not meant for economic activities other than conservation.
“Illegal mining is unacceptable. Any form of mining in protected forests is strictly prohibited,” he emphasized.
The arrested individuals are currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing to determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below: