Relentless War on Galamsey: Ashanti Region Launches 24-Hour Operation to Safeguard Forests
Task force launches relentless day-and-night operation to protect forest reserves and expose illegal mining activities.
A special task force against illegal mining, led by the Acting Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, has launched an intensive 24-hour joint operation with the Forestry Commission to combat illegal mining (galamsey) in forest reserves across the region.
The crackdown follows a recent attack on a member of the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Addressing the media on Monday, March 24, 2025, Captain Jabari emphasized the urgency of reinforcing security measures to prevent further destruction of the region’s natural resources.
“We have observed that some of these illegal miners operate at night after hiding their equipment during the day. To counter this, we are implementing a continuous 24-hour operation with dedicated teams working both day and night,” he stated.
To ensure transparency, Captain Jabari revealed that journalists would be invited to tour the forest reserves alongside the Forestry Commission. This initiative aims to provide firsthand evidence of the ongoing reclamation efforts rather than relying solely on verbal reports.
“I must stress that within the next week, we will take the media around to showcase the reclaimed forest reserves, ensuring the public sees concrete proof of our work instead of engaging in a social media debate,” he added.
The task force remains resolute in its mission to eradicate illegal mining and restore degraded lands across the Ashanti Region.
