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 years, are to remain in police custody for seven days. The presiding judge, Mr. Lawrence Buanor-Buer, informed the police that his court was not equipped to handle such matters and suggested that the case be transferred to a higher court.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Joe Appiah Frimpong, the District Manager for Enchi Forest District, highlighted that the Enchi Forest District comprises eight forest reserves, including Jema Asemkrom and Boi Tano, which are located in the Elubo area near Samreboi. Mr. Frimpong mentioned that they had received intelligence about miners setting up camp in the forest reserve.
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, an operation was launched between 1:00 am and 6:30 am, coordinated by the Western North Regional Forest Services Division and the Enchi Forest District. The operation aimed to flush out illegal miners from the Boi Tano and Jema Asemkrom forest reserves. During the operation, the task force raided the site and arrested suspects including Philip Kanza, Biney Benedict, Francis Achiah, Joshua Asare, Emmanuel Amankwa, and Martin Kwame, among others.
The operation also resulted in the burning of five water pumping machines, four makeshift structures, and the seizure of two water pumping machines, ten mobile phones, and four shovels. Mr. Frimpong noted that it took the team four and a half hours to reach the camps from the forest boundary.
According to Mr. Frimpong, all suspects were handed over to the Enchi Police Command for further investigations and prosecution.