The changfan engines being burnt
FIFTEEN (15) CHANGFAN engines, belonging to some suspected illegal miners, have been burnt beyond recognition as part of efforts to curb illegal mining.
The suspects were said to be prospecting for gold in the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve after Botrampa village, near Adiemra, in the Ashanti Region on January 19, 2026.
A joint team involving the Nyinahin District Police, Blue Water Guard Team and the Nyinahin District Assembly Illegal Mining Task Force rushed to the place to apprehend the suspects.
Upon sighting the security agents, the illegal miners, reportedly, fled from the scene in order to escape arrest, leaving behind the changfan engines and other equipment.
According to a Nyinahin District Police statement, the security team decided to set the changfan engines, water hoses and other mining equipment at the scene on fire.
“Today, 19/01/2026, at about 0900 hours, ASP/Mr. Cecil Ofoli Quaye accompanied Blue Water Guard team and the Nyinahin District Assembly Illegal Mining Task Force to the “Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve” after Botrampa village near Adiemra where Illegal miners are operating.
“The team arrived at the forest and met the miners. But suspects upon spotting the team from afar, started to run.
“However, fifteen ‘changfan’ engines, water hoses and other mining equipment were destroyed and burnt,” the police report said.
According to the police statement, sighted by the paper, “Seven water pump machines were brought to the station as exhibits,” adding that “No arrests were made.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi