Twenty-four illegal miners have been arrested following a dawn operation by Rapid Response Teams (RRT) at the Atewa Range Forest in the Eastern Region.
The operation, carried out at about 3:30 a.m. on April 28 at Sagyimase, involved 30 personnel drawn from six teams across the country. It formed part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities in protected forest zones.
According to operational details, several other suspects fled the scene during the swoop.
Security personnel destroyed 16 water pumping machines and 52 makeshift poly-sheet tent structures believed to have been used by the illegal miners. Two additional water pumps were seized and transported to the district office as exhibits.
The arrested suspects are currently being processed at the Kyebi District Office and are expected to be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Atewa Range Forest has been a key focus of anti-illegal mining operations due to its ecological importance and the threat posed by galamsey activities to water bodies and biodiversity.
Authorities say such operations will continue as part of a broader national strategy to protect the environment and enforce mining laws.
