The Nkawie District Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission has issued a stern warning to illegal miners to stay away from the forest or be ready to face the law.
The Division hinted that stringent measures have been put in place to ensure illegal mining operations in the district do not advance.
Thirteen (13) illegal miners arrested in the Jimira forest reserve in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti Region by the division have been remanded by the Nkawie Circuit Court.
The forest is under afforestation management by a private company under a Public-Public Partnership agreement.
“We’ve been battling with illegal mining within the compartment 18 of the Jimira forest reserve for some time now. They keep destroying the trees as we try to re-afforest. We had to join hands with the Amangoase community, and the private company managing the compartment to launch an attack and arrest the miners. We had to quickly together with the police arraign them before a court to serve as deterrent to others.
“We are serving a warning to the illegal miners that, they should dare not enter the forest because we will go after them”, Nkawie District Manager of Forest Services Division, Abraham Essel cautioned.
Concession Manager of Plantation limited at Jimmira reserve, Benjamin Gyedu said the activities of illegal miners are posing threat to the growth of the trees.
“The illegal miners have been disturbing us for the past two years. They are destroying trees that are six years and even more with impunity” Mr Gyedu pointed out.
Residents in forest fringe communities have been entreated to support the fight against illegal mining by giving vital information that will lead to the arrest of perpetrators.
The 13 suspected illegal miners will reappear in court on August 6, 2024.
The post Nkawie Forest Services Division clamps down on illegal miners; 13 remanded first appeared on 3News.
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