A swift response by Ghana’s Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force has led to the recovery of three excavators used in illegal mining operations within the Jimira Forest Reserve in Bontireso, Ashanti Region.

This follows an open-source intelligence alert issued by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on August 2, 2025.

The intelligence originated from a Facebook post by Joy FM’s investigative journalist, Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, which alleged that illegal miners had invaded the protected forest area.

Acting on the alert, the Special Anti-Galamsey Team—led by DSP Karim Mahama and ASP Alhaji Bawah Abdul Jalil—mobilised to the site to assess the situation and take enforcement action.

En route, the team learned that the Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Police Command, had already intervened at the location and impounded one excavator as illegal miners fled the scene.

Undeterred, the Special Anti-Galamsey Team proceeded to the Jimira Forest Reserve, where they confirmed recent illegal mining activity.

Two additional SHANTUI excavators were discovered abandoned at the site.

However, both machines were found to be mechanically incapacitated and could not be moved immediately.

During the operation, the team encountered a major obstruction on the main access road—an excavator intentionally abandoned by fleeing illegal miners to block law enforcement’s access.

The obstruction was cleared, and the SHANTUI excavator used to block the road was successfully recovered and transported to the Manso Adubia Police Station, where it is currently impounded pending further directives.

Photographic and video evidence from the operation has been submitted for documentation and further investigation.