By Von Cofie
A high-risk joint operation led by the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces has successfully dismantled a sprawling illegal mining camp within the Abrewa-Ninkra section of the Subri Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Western Region on Tuesday, April 1
The raid exposed a disturbing web of criminal activities and led to the destruction of makeshift mining structures, brothels, and shelters, as well as the rescue of trafficked victims, some of whom were young foreign nationals forced into prostitution and drug abuse.
The operation, described by officials as one of the most revealing in recent times, uncovered an underground settlement populated by nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The once-quiet forestry community had been turned into a hotspot for cross-border criminal activity, complete with drug use, money laundering operations, and human trafficking networks.
Authorities stated that the damage to the forest ecosystem and local community has been devastating.
Nana Kwabena Bosompim, Western Regional Forestry Manager, in an interview after the operation, stated that the illegal miners had constructed fully functional hubs, including wooden brothels and makeshift shelters that served both as living spaces and business centres.
Security officers described the entire setup as an “eyesore”, a complete departure from the forest’s original purpose as a conservation zone.
“We just had to raid the community and burn down the equipment and make sure everybody is flushed out. We are going to be here for the next two weeks and will make sure every illegal miner is raided from this community.“I sent a warning to all the miners to get out of this community, forest reserves and the water bodies. If you want to mine, do that legally, and we will have no issues with you,” he revealed.
