The Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Nana Poku Bosompim, has vowed that illegal miners will not be allowed to return to slums that were recently destroyed during a coordinated operation.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday after the successful demolition of notorious illegal mining slums, including Abrewa Ne Nkran, Jerusalem, and another camp near Wassa Nkran, Mr Bosompim said the Forestry Commission, with the backing of the military, is rolling out a strict surveillance and patrol strategy to ensure the camps are never rebuilt.
He emphasised that this was not the first time such slums had been destroyed.
“There have been at least three raids in the past, and each time they regrouped and came back—this time, more determined. After we cleared the area, we even discovered that some had already begun laying concrete foundations instead of the usual wooden structures.”
To prevent the return of illegal miners, the Forestry Commission is implementing a new strategy anchored on sustained ground patrols, military collaboration, and real-time surveillance.
“So the strategy now is to be able to patrol the area frequently and then make sure that the camp is never rebuilt.”
The operation at Abrewa Ne Nkran, which took place under the cover of darkness at around 3:00 am, involved officers from the Ghana Armed Forces’ Southern Command, who provided security and tactical support.
According to Mr. Bosompim, the mission was based on intelligence suggesting that the camps were not only densely populated but also controlled by armed gangs who resisted previous eviction efforts.
“Our initial estimate was around 1,500 to 2,000 occupants, but when we launched drone surveillance mid-operation, we saw thousands, far beyond what we had anticipated. It was a whole city hiding in plain sight, tucked right on the edge of our protected forest.”
