The Forestry Commission vehicle
DRAMA UNFOLDED when Forestry Commission officials, who attempted to stop illegal miners from mining in the Jimira Forest Reserve near Pekyi-Nkrumah in the Ashanti Region, were rather chased away by the same miners they were pursuing.
The Forestry Commission officials, stationed at the Nkawie Division in the Ashanti Region, according to a police report, were informed that some group of miners were busily digging for gold in the forest around 9:50am on June 28, 2025.
To prevent the illegal miners from causing damage to the forest and the environment, the Forestry Commission officials then quickly drove with a service vehicle to the Jimira Forest Reserve near Pekyi-Nkrumah to stop the illegal miners.
However, to the surprise of the Forestry Commission officials, the illegal miners, who were heavily armed with guns and cutlasses, rather started to chase them (forestry officials) away in a dangerous fashion. They even hit the Forestry Commission car with cutlasses, amid gunshots.
Realising that their lives were in danger, the Forestry Commission officials surprisingly took to their heels and headed to the Nkawie police, where they lodged a complaint.
The police report said, “Today, 28/06/25 at about 1130 hours, Joseph Abilla, Deputy Forestry Manager, Nkawie Forestry Commission i/c 7 men, came to the DIV/CID and reported that they had information that a group of illegal miners are mining in the Jimira Forest Reserve near Pekyi-Nkrumah.
“That, today 28/06/25 at about 0950 hours, they went into the forest to enquire. However, on reaching a section of the forest, they met a group of young men numbering about 15 holding pump action guns; who prevented them from accessing the alleged site, hitting their vehicles with cutlasses and firing of gunshots, and as such needed police assistance.”
According to the police statement, which the DAILY GUIDE has sighted, no arrest had been made yet, as the police are still investigating the case.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi