War Against Illegal Mining: Seized Excavator Disappears …From Lawful Custody?

The Missing Excavator

An excavator owned by suspected illegal miners has gone missing. The Rapid Response Team of the Forestry Commission impounded it from the Upper Wassa Forest Reserve. This incident occurred in the Bibiani Forest of the Western North region.

On May 17, 2025, around 1:00 PM GMT, the team acted on intelligence. They conducted an operation in the Amenase area to stop illegal mining. When they arrived, the illegal miners fled, leaving behind an excavator with chassis number 1148/8137457-00 and model number SE 2151-KLC.

The team moved the excavator to a nearby town. They awaited a low-loader truck to transport it to Bibiani's Forestry Commission office. Two suspects, Kwabena Anyimade and Kweku Asuama Atobrah, claimed ownership of the excavator and site. They were arrested immediately.

While transporting the suspects to Bibiani Police Station, they were intercepted at Modaso. Superintendent Bernard Morgan and officer Alhassan from the Formed Police Unit demanded their release. Reports suggest that District Chief Executive Ebenezer Appiah Forson requested that the excavator be kept at District Assembly premises for convenience.

A top government official allegedly instructed Supt. Morgan to intervene and secure their release. The Forestry officers refused this request, insisting on following legal procedures. After a heated exchange, they handed over the suspects to Diaso Police for further investigation.

Later, when the Forestry team returned for the excavator, it was missing. Unknown individuals had taken it away to an undisclosed location.

When contacted by *The Chronicle*, DCE Ebenezer Appiah Forson claimed he was unaware of the incident. He advised reporters to visit his office on Monday for more information.

A source close to Supt. Morgan confirmed that the excavator was indeed missing. This source stated that Morgan received a call from DCE Appiah Forson about "some people" being arrested and asked him to intervene.

The source argued that since this happened in his jurisdiction, detaining suspects at Diaso was appropriate for convenience. However, they disputed claims that it occurred within a forest reserve.

When asked if DCE instructed him not to transfer suspects to Bibiani, he denied receiving such orders. He explained that after discussions with Forestry officers, they agreed to hand over suspects for detention.

The source noted that Forestry officers did not return as agreed on retrieving the excavator. Investigations into its disappearance are ongoing.

Recently, this case was heard at Bibiani District Court where both suspects were granted bail. The next court date is set for June 2025.