Officials of the Nkawie District Forestry Commission, have arrested nine persons who were allegedly engaged in illegal mining activities at Nkonteng near Nkawie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.
The Rapid Response team of the Commission together with Forestry guards on Wednesday morning, moved to the Jimira forest reserve where the miners were encroaching.
The nine persons comprise eight males and a female.
They have been identified as Michael Gyamfi, Kwame Kwakye, Abdullai Iddrisu, Daniel Agyei and Haruna Seidu.
The rest are Agyei Bernard, Kwaku Gyamfi, Afia Cynthia and Adunai.
According to officials, the miners have adopted a new tactic in carrying out their activities since Government placed a ban on all forms of small scale as part of efforts to eradicate illegal mining in the country.
The miners use equipment such as spade, shovels and pumping machines to dig and wash in order to extract gold in the forest reserve.
Nkawie District Forestry Commission Manager, Nana Poku Bosompem, who confirmed the arrest to Citi News, warned that his outfit will continue to be tough on persons engaging in illegal mining activities.
He called on the public and other stakeholders to help clamp down on such activities. Some locally made pistols were also retrieved from the miners.
The Miners have been handed to the Nkawie Police Divisional Police Command, where they are to be subsequently processed for court.
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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana