Operation Halt II storms Bosomtwe forest reserve; seizes five excavators, burns mining equipment

In the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Bekwai Forest District of the Ashanti Region, Operation Halt 2 team members have confiscated five excavators and destroyed some mining equipment.

The Operation Halt II crew confiscated and destroyed a total of six pumping machines and other mining equipment used by illegal miners in the reserve.

The apparatus was seized and destroyed during a four-day operation conducted by the military task force.

The Operation Halt II team was deployed to the region four days ago to combat galamsey in forest reserves and to perpetually patrol the area to halt illegal mining in these reserves.

Some of the floating platforms and equipment installed in different sections of the reserve had been decommissioned and destroyed.

Illegal miners have been attracted to the Bosomtwe Range Forest in recent years.

It has survived five illegal mining assaults in the past three years, as Forestry Commission staff have on multiple occasions foiled galamsey operators' attempts to mine the reserve.


The galamsey operators were responsible for the devastation of portions of the forest reserve.

In the reserve, illegal miners have devastated trees and water bodies of economic value, as well as others.

In less than three weeks after acquiring access to the forest reserve, the illegal miners, aided by the five excavators, destroyed a portion of the forest reserve with the assistance of Operation Halt II.

Flt. Col. Louis Boakye, Deputy Command Operations Officer of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, expressed concern over how the reserve has become a target for galamsey operators.

He stated that the crew would be ruthless in eliminating illegal miners who resisted capture.

"We would like to remind everyone of the government's unyielding posture against galamsey operators. "Those who are obstinate and will not heed any warnings should be prepared, as we will continue to attack them," he said.

He stated that the ongoing operation would continue until all waterways and forest reserves are devoid of illegal miners.