Community watch committee arrest three illegal miners at Jema

Three suspected illegal miners have been arrested at Jema in the Aowin area of the Western Region after they were allegedly caught mining within the Tano-Boin Forest Reserve.

The suspects were intercepted on Friday, October 2, 2026, by members of the Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocacy (JAGA) Watch Committee, who reportedly spotted them entering the protected reserve and carrying out mining activities along the bank of the Tano River.

JAGA said the suspects were found with a water-pumping machine and a changfang mining raft, which were allegedly being used in the mining operation.

One of the suspects reportedly attempted to escape by swimming across the Tano River after the group was intercepted. Members of the watch committee pursued him and successfully apprehended him.

Following the arrests, the District and Regional offices of the Forestry Commission at Enchi and Wiawso were notified.

The Forestry Commission subsequently arranged transportation to move the suspects from Jema to Enchi and covered other operational expenses incurred during the exercise.

JAGA commended the Forestry Commission for its prompt response and collaboration, saying officials had assured the organisation that the case would be followed up to ensure the suspects were dealt with in accordance with the law.

Suspects remanded

The three suspects were initially handed over to the Police at the Jema Police Station before being transferred to the District Police Command at Enchi.

They were subsequently arraigned before the Assankragwa Magistrate Court and remanded in police custody for one week.

JAGA praised the Enchi District Police Command, particularly the District Commander, Chief Superintendent Mensah, for ensuring that the suspects were brought before the court.

The organisation said the development demonstrated the importance of cooperation between community-based environmental groups and state institutions in tackling illegal mining and protecting Ghana's forest reserves.

JAGA calls for stronger enforcement

JAGA contrasted the latest arrests with an earlier case involving two Nigerien nationals whom the organisation said it arrested in 2025 for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in the Jema-Assemkrom Forest Reserve.

According to JAGA, the two suspects were subsequently granted police bail, and the organisation has not seen meaningful progress in that case.

The group said the latest development reinforced the need for arrests linked to illegal mining to be pursued through the appropriate legal and judicial processes.

It called on the relevant law-enforcement and judicial authorities to give the current case the necessary attention, citing the environmental and public-interest consequences of illegal mining in protected forest reserves.

JAGA also stressed that the responsibility for protecting Ghana's forests and water bodies should not rest solely with state institutions.

“When civilians risk their lives to arrest illegal miners to protect their water bodies and forests from destruction, state institutions must support them by enforcing the law,” the organisation said.

The group further called for a coordinated approach involving politicians, security agencies, the Judiciary, traditional leaders and local communities to strengthen the fight against illegal mining and protect the country's remaining forest reserves.