21 Arrested for Illegal Mining in Yakombo Forest Reserve

21 Arrested for Illegal Mining in Yakombo Forest Reserve in the ongoing Galamsey fight.

In a decisive operation against illegal mining, the Forestry Commission has arrested 21 individuals, including 11 Chinese nationals and 10 Ghanaians, for engaging in galamsey activities within the Yakombo Forest Reserve in the Savannah Region.

The intelligence-led operation was conducted on December 2, 2025, and involved a 51-member team made up of forest guards from the Buipe and Bole Forest Districts of the Forest Services Division, along with three Rapid Response Units.

The arrests were made in Compartments 50 and 51 of the reserve, near Tuntumba in the Bole-Bamboi District.

The Chinese nationals arrested include:

Tang Shao Qi (28), He Peng (40), Zhou Qin Sar (25), Wu Xu (39), He Chuang Ye (45), Cheng Lin (40), Long Xi (32), Yang Gesheng (51), Zhang Hongzhaojie (34), Zhou Peng (39), and Wu Yujie (24).

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The Ghanaian suspects are:

Alhassan Yakubu, Daniel Mba (33), Pious Kwabena (20), Emmanuel Amankra (40), Seidu Suleman (44), Sampson Akawuni (22), Thadeus Gideon (27), Mohammed Salim (21), Mohammed Kanamu (25), and Saaka Yakubu (22).

The operation also led to the seizure of several vehicles and mining equipment, including:

– 1 Toyota Hilux

– 2 Great Wall pick-up trucks

– 3 Howo tipper trucks

– 1 Man Diesel low-bed truck carrying an excavator

All suspects have been handed over to the Damongo Regional Police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The confiscated equipment has been secured at the Mole National Park under the oversight of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.

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The Yakombo Forest Reserve, established in 1974, spans approximately 1,210 square kilometers, making it the largest forest reserve in Ghana. Authorities reaffirm their commitment to protecting the nation’s natural resources and clamping down on all forms of illegal mining.

Source: CitiNews