
A police operation targeting illegal miners encamped in the Offin Shelter Belt Forest Reserve at Anwiafutu, near Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region, escalated into violence, leaving four people injured. Among the injured was Ohemeng Tawiah, an Assistant Editor with JoyNews, who had joined the operation as part of a follow-up investigation into illegal mining activities involving Clean Jobs Resources Limited.
Tawiah sustained severe injuries, including cuts, head and chest wounds, twisted fingers, and a near-amputation attempt on his right leg during a machete attack by a mob of illegal miners. The attackers also seized valuable equipment from the media team, including cameras, mobile phones, and power banks, and vandalized two minibuses used by the group.
Operation Details
The operation, launched by a team from the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters in Kumasi, commenced around 9 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024. The team included police officers, media personnel, and excavator mechanics. Upon arrival at the mining site operated by Clean Jobs Resources Limited, the officers encountered security guards dressed in military camouflage, who were disarmed and detained to ensure the operation’s success.
The illegal miners, a group comprising local and Chinese collaborators, had fled the site after receiving prior warning. Their abandoned equipment, including gold washers and generators, was discovered amid the devastation of several hectares of the once-pristine forest reserve. The site bore deep trenches, freshly dug pits, and sand heaps, all evidence of illicit mining. Investigators found at least eight washing machines actively engaged in processing minerals.
Tensions Escalate
As the police conducted their search, reports emerged that a group of miners, supported by local youth, had erected a barricade at the entrance to the site. The mob, led by individuals identified as Alhassan and Commander Adu, demanded the release of arrested miners, confiscated weapons, and personal belongings as conditions for the safe exit of the police team.
The standoff intensified when miners began pelting stones at the minibuses, shattering their windows. The arrival of additional reinforcements, including individuals in military camouflage led by a man identified as W.O., further heightened tensions. W.O. reportedly ordered that no vehicles leave the site.
Attack on JoyNews Journalist
Amid the chaos, a unit committee member attempted to escort the JoyNews team to safety. However, Tawiah was targeted by the miners, who chased and attacked him with machetes, pump-action guns, and stones. The journalist was robbed of his belongings and left bleeding profusely after falling during the assault. He was eventually rescued by a police vehicle and rushed to a medical facility in Kumasi, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Investigative Findings
Preliminary investigations by JoyNews revealed that Clean Jobs Resources Limited had obtained an entry permit from the Forestry Commission, ostensibly for reclamation and afforestation activities. However, contrary to the terms of the permit, the company engaged in illegal mining within the untouched Offin Shelter Belt Forest Reserve, a previously pristine area with no history of mining operations.
This incident highlights the persistent challenges in combating illegal mining in protected areas, raising concerns about collusion and oversight in granting permits for activities within sensitive ecological zones. Authorities are yet to announce further measures to address the violence and ensure accountability for the breach of regulations.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com