Western North: Chief, nine others arrested for engaging in illegal mining
According to the statement, the traditional leader is said to have recruited the others into the illegal mining business.
The Chief of Manse, Nana Kwame Sobre II, and nine other suspects have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining in the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve in the Western North Region.
A statement from the Forestry Commission said the suspects were arrested during a swoop by the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of the Commission.
According to the statement, the traditional leader is said to have recruited the others into the illegal mining business.
“The RRTs arrested 10 persons who gave their names as Nana Kwame Sobre II (Chief of Manse); Osman Shaibu; Nana Kwasi; Desmond Nkrumah; Abraham Donkor; Frank Mensah; Richard Kurofie; Patrick Ayambila; Abdul Salam and Rasad Nuoeeikaa," the statement said.
“The swoop was carried out to flush out illegal miners who have entered the Reserve with heavy machinery and had destroyed the forest cover and polluted water bodies through their illegal mining operations. These illegal acts are alleged to be backed by some top political actors and traditional authorities in the Region.
“The Team also immobilised two excavators and two heavy duty generator plants found at the illegal mining site. The arrested persons have been sent to the Dunkwa Police Station from where they will be transferred to the appropriate Police jurisdiction in the Western North Region to be processed for court.”
