Police impound excavator following IGP’s intelligence tip on galamsey activity in Jimira Forest
The Ghana Police Service has confirmed the retrieval of an abandoned excavator and the discovery of two others after acting on an intelligence report disseminated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, regarding illegal mining activities in the Jimira Forest Reserve near Bontireso in the Ashanti Region.
The IGP’s action was triggered by an open-source intelligence tip originating from a Facebook post by Erastus Asare Donkor, an investigative journalist with Joy FM. The post alleged that illegal miners had encroached on the protected forest area.
In swift response, the Special Anti-Galamsey Operations Team, led by DSP Karim Mahama and ASP Alhaji Bawah Abdul Jalil, was dispatched to the site to verify the claim and take enforcement action.
According to police sources, while en route to the area, the team received information that the Ashanti Regional Police Command, working in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, had already conducted an initial operation at the location and seized one excavator. The suspected illegal miners reportedly fled before that team arrived.
Despite this development, the Anti-Galamsey Team proceeded to the site for further assessment. Upon arrival, they found the area deserted but confirmed that illegal mining activities had recently taken place. Two SHANTUI excavators were found abandoned at the site, both mechanically incapacitated and immovable at the time.
While heading toward the location, the team encountered an unexpected obstruction—an excavator had been abandoned on the main access road by fleeing illegal miners in a bid to prevent the team from reaching the site.
The obstruction was eventually cleared, and the SHANTUI excavator was retrieved and transported to the Manso Adubia Police Station, where it is currently impounded pending further investigation.
The Ghana Police Service has reiterated its commitment to supporting the national fight against illegal mining and protecting the country’s forest reserves.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with efforts underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the illegal mining operations.
