The Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response team has raided an illegal mining aka galamsey camp in the Subri Forest Reserve near Benso in the Western Region, arresting four armed miners.

The suspects, all Ghanaians, were found mining in a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area of the forest.

During the operation, the team seized five pump action guns, 77 rounds of ammunition, and burnt three excavators.

Other items found at the site have been handed over to the Takoradi police for further investigation.

The suspects, identified as Innussah Yussif, Issah Seidu, Shadrack Yowson, and Emmanuel Adawusu, are believed to be backed by influential figures who supported their illegal mining activities, causing severe destruction to the forest in search of gold.

The raid, part of a joint rapid response effort in the Takoradi Forest District, comes amidst increasing illegal mining activities that have degraded significant portions of Ghana’s forest reserves.