73 Illegal miners arrested in Tilli Forest

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

The miners had been hiding in the forest and engaging in illegal mining in the thick forest and the Red Volta River which passes through the area.

They are made up of two Burkina Faso nationals, 27 Togolese and 41 Ghanaians, including three children.

The arrest which was made yesterday by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was a follow-up to a recent appeal by the Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigiri Bewong.

The operation, which was led by a team of personnel drawn from the Police, Military and Immigration Service, led to the retrieval of air compressors, drilling machines, motorbikes and gold processing equipment.

Courtesy call

During a courtesy call on him on February 20, 2025 by the Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, after assuming office, Naba Bewong raised the concern and urged the minister to take decisive action against persons engaged in illegal mining in the forest.

According to him, since it was a forest reserve, it was important for action to be taken to safeguard it from further destruction as it would have dire consequences on the people within the forest’s catchment areas.

Response

Speaking to journalists, Mr Atanga indicated that based upon the concern raised by Naba Bewong, REGSEC thoroughly discussed the issue and afterwards resolved to go to the scene to assess the situation.

He said “upon reaching there, we saw many people, including children, actively mining in both the forest reserve and the Red Volta River and the banks as well, and that “following the raid, some illegal miners have been arrested for interrogation”.

He announced that further visits would be conducted to other forest reserves in the region to free them of illegal mining activities, and added “as REGSEC, we will do everything possible to clamp down on illegal mining”.

Divulge information

Mr Atanga used the occasion to call on chiefs and the people to freely divulge information on illegal mining activities ongoing in the region to enable the government to deal with them decisively for the benefit of all.

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

He stressed that if care was not taken the polluted water would flow into the main Volta River which was a major source of drinking water for residents in several communities living along it.

Writer’s email; gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.