73 Illegal miners arrested in Tilli Forest

Authorities have arrested 73 illegal miners, commonly known as galamseyers, operating in the Tilli Forest, which spans the Bawku West and Nabdam districts in the Upper East Region.

The group includes two Burkinabes, 27 Togolese, and 41 Ghanaians, among them three children.

The Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led the operation in response to concerns raised by Naba Sigiri Bewong, the Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, about the destruction of the forest and the Red Volta River.

Security forces, including police, military, and immigration officers, confiscated equipment such as air compressors, drilling machines, motorbikes, and gold processing tools.

Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga, who led the operation, confirmed ongoing efforts to clear illegal miners from forest reserves.

He urged chiefs and residents to report such activities, warning that pollution of the Red Volta River could affect communities relying on it for drinking water.