The Operation Halt II team has arrested six Chinese and a Ghanaian found operating at an illegal mining site and for engaging in other poor environmental practices at Mile 9 and other communities in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
They have reportedly wreaked havoc on the environment and water bodies, including River Offin.
Since Tuesday, June 6, the Operation Halt II team has mounted a sustained operation.
They patrolled Apamprama Forest Reserve, Oda Forest Reserve, Bosomtwe Forest Range, and other galamsey sites in Ashanti Region.
Districts visited included Amansie Central, Amansie South, Bekwai Municipal, and Bosome Freho District.
Those arrested were galamsey operators mining off the reserve area of Bosomtwe Forest Range, illegal mining sites, and other unauthorized sites.
The team seized 30 excavators and decommissioned some of the machines.
Other machines for illegal mining were also burnt by the team during the operation.
Their mission is to fight against illegal mining in forest reserves and near river bodies.
Some Changfan machines, water pumping machines, fuel storage tanks, and other improvised mining equipment and structures were all affected.
The six Chinese arrested were handed over to the Immigration Officers in the Bekwai Municipality whilst the excavators were taken to the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces in Kumasi.
The Deputy Commander of Operation Halt II, Lt. Col. Louis Boakye, said the exercise was to conduct confirmatory patrols in areas visited.
“We are undertaking confirmatory patrols to check whether we have illegal miners within our forest reserves we visited last time,” he stated.
He expressed worry about how the illegal miners have invaded forest reserves and destroyed economic trees and water bodies.
According to him, the action of illegal miners poses a threat to farmers and security.
He appealed to the people to desist from negative practices.
The Leader of the Rapid Response Team of the Bekwai Forest District, Ebenezer Appiah, expressed serious concern about the way information is leaked to the galamsey operators when they are embarking on a patrol.
“We are doing our best to protect the forest reserves,” he said.
He said the continuous attacks on the team by the illegal miners pose a serious threat to members.
