Enchi: The Enchi District Magistrate Court has remanded thirteen suspected illegal miners into police custody for operating in the Boi Tano forest reserve in the Western North Region. The suspects, aged between 17 and 29, are expected to remain in custody for seven days. The presiding judge, Lawrence Buanor-Buer, informed the police that his court is not equipped to handle such cases and advised that the suspects be sent to a higher court.
According to Ghana Web, Joe Appiah Frimpong, the District Manager for Enchi Forest District, revealed that the district encompasses eight forest reserves, including the Jema Asemkrom and Boi Tano forest reserves located near Samreboi. Frimpong disclosed that intelligence reports indicated the presence of illegal miners who had established a camp within the forest reserve for their operations.
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 1:00 am to 6:30 am, four teams under the coordination of the Western North Regional Forest Services Division and the Enchi Forest District conducted an intelligence-led operation to dismantle illegal mining activities in the Boi Tano and Jema Asemkrom forest reserves. During the operation, the task force successfully raided the site and apprehended suspects including Philip Kanza, Biney Benedict, Francis Achiah, Joshua Asare, Emmanuel Amankwa, and Martin Kwame, among others.
Frimpong reported that the team destroyed five water pumping machines, four makeshift structures, and confiscated two additional water pumping machines, ten mobile phones, and four shovels. The operation required a demanding four-and-a-half-hour trek from the forest boundary to the miners' camp.
According to Frimpong, all suspects have been handed over to the Enchi Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.