Galamsey: 73 illegal miners arrested in Tilli Forest

Seventy-three illegal miners, popularly referred to as galamseyers, have been arrested in the Tilli Forest, which spans the Bawku West and Nabdam districts in the Upper East Region.

The miners, who had been hiding in the forest while engaging in illegal mining, were also operating in the Red Volta River, which passes through the area.

Among those arrested are two Burkinabe nationals, 27 Togolese, and 41 Ghanaians, including three children.

The arrest, carried out on the morning of March 4, 2025, by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), was in response to a recent appeal by the Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigiri Bewong.

The operation, led by a team of personnel from the police, military, and immigration service, resulted in the retrieval of air compressors, drilling machines, motorbikes, and gold processing equipment.

Courtesy call

During a courtesy call on February 20, 2025, by the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, after assuming office, Naba Bewong raised concerns about illegal mining activities in the forest and urged the minister to take decisive action.

He emphasized that, as a forest reserve, urgent measures were needed to prevent further destruction, warning that unchecked mining activities could have dire consequences for communities within the forest’s catchment area.

Government’s response

Speaking to the media, Mr. Atanga indicated that REGSEC had thoroughly discussed the issue following the chief’s concerns and decided to visit the scene to assess the situation firsthand.

“Upon reaching there, we saw many people, including children, actively mining in both the forest reserve and the Red Volta River and its banks,” he said. “Following the raid, some illegal miners have been arrested for interrogation.”

He further announced that REGSEC would extend similar operations to other forest reserves in the region to rid them of illegal mining activities. “As REGSEC, we will do everything possible to clamp down on illegal mining,” he added.

Call for public support

Mr. Atanga urged chiefs and community members to freely provide information about illegal mining activities to help the government address the problem effectively.

“Gradually, the colour of the Red Volta River is changing, and it is important that illegal mining activities in the river are halted to prevent further destruction,” the regional minister stated.

He warned that if action was not taken, the polluted water would eventually flow into the main Volta River, a major source of drinking water for many communities along its course.