The Nkawie Circuit Court has remanded 13 alleged illegal miners into police custody for unlawful entry and mining in the Jimmirah Forest Reserve, a protected area in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region. The forest reserve, located at Amangoase, is currently undergoing afforestation efforts aimed at restoring the degraded forest ecosystem and promoting biodiversity.
Compartment 18 of the Jimmirah Forest Reserve is specifically being restored under an agreement with a private developer, who has invested significant resources in the project. However, the afforestation efforts have been severely hindered by the recent invasion of illegal miners seeking gold deposits in the area, causing widespread environmental degradation and destruction of newly planted trees.
The illegal mining activities have raised serious concerns about the success of the afforestation project, which is crucial for maintaining the ecological balance of the region. Inhabitants of Amangoase, determined to protect their environment and livelihoods, mobilized and teamed up with Forestry Commission officers to take action against the illegal miners.
Together, they conducted a joint operation that led to the arrest of 13 illegal miners who were found mining in the forest reserve, in clear violation of the law. The suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Nkawie Circuit Court, which remanded them into police custody to await trial.
The 13 alleged illegal miners are scheduled to reappear in court on August 6, 2024, to face charges of unlawful entry and mining in a protected area. The remand of the suspects serves as a warning to others engaging in illegal mining activities in the area, as the authorities continue to crack down on such activities to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development.
