Forestry Commission arrests 11 in anti-galamsey operation at Pra Anum Forest Reserve
The Forestry Commission (FC) has apprehended 11 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining following a joint anti-galamsey operation carried out at dawn on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
The suspects include eight Ghanaians and three Chinese nationals. The operation was executed by a 28-member task force made up of three Rapid Response Teams, with additional support from personnel of the Oda Forest District under the Forest Services Division.
According to the Commission, the arrests took place at Compartment 70 of the Pra Anum Forest Reserve at Banka, located within the Oda Forest District in the Eastern Region.
The Ghanaian suspects were identified as Mohammed Mustapha, 25; Aminu Moro, 48; Owusu Emmanuel, 28; Raymond Opoku Agyemang, 32; Teye Joseph, 32; Oduro Emmanuel, 29; Aaron Oppong Gyebi, 36; and Isaac Apana, 32.
The Chinese nationals arrested were named as Jun Hunay, 42; Wen Yong Feng, 49; and Lu Zheng Zhan, 37.
The Forestry Commission disclosed that all 11 suspects have since been handed over to the Asante Akim Juaso District Police Command to facilitate investigations and possible prosecution.
Items retrieved during the operation include two pickup trucks — a Toyota with registration number GW 4974-23 and a Great Wall vehicle with registration number GT 4189-25 — along with eight excavators and one automatic pump-action firearm.
The Commission noted that the seized vehicles have been transferred to the Oda Forest District Office for safekeeping and reiterated its resolve to step up actions against illegal mining in forest reserves nationwide.
Source: CNR
