Galamsey Fight: Eight Galamseyers Apprehended In Atiwa Forest

The Eastern Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Isaac Noble Eshun, has revealed that his outfit has apprehended eight (8) illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers, who were operating in the Atiwa Forest.

Explaining how the suspects were arrested, Noble Eshun said they received a tipoff on Saturday, February 15, 2025, about illegal mining activities in the Atiwa Forest. When his team arrived and attempted to enter the forest, they were chased out by the illegal miners because they were fully armed, unlike his men.

According to him, the Atiwa Forest is very dear to the hearts of many Ghanaians, and they will not allow anyone to destroy it, along with other forest reserves across the country.

“So on the following day, which was Sunday, February 16, they went there again and informed the Potrase residents about the happenings, and they helped them enter the forest to stop the illegal miners (galamseyers) from operating,” he noted.

However, upon their arrival, most of the miners fled, abandoning their excavators. With support from the Potrase youth, eight of them were apprehended and handed over to the Kyebi Police Command for further investigations and, if necessary, arraignment before the court.

The Eastern Regional Forestry Manager went on to commend the Potrase youth for their immense efforts in assisting with the arrest of the eight illegal miners.

Isaac Noble Eshun described them as patriotic citizens, noting that in most cases, locals either protect galamseyers or help them escape when authorities arrive.

However, in this instance, the youth of Potrase actively supported the fight against illegal mining and stated that if all Ghanaians emulated the Potrase youth, the menace would have been curbed.

He then appealed to the government to provide resources to enable them to effectively carry out their mandate.

Noble Eshun told KONTIHEN KOFI OBOH that these illegal miners are fully armed, and to combat them effectively, his team also needs to be armed.

By//Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohmewsonline.com.