Ghanaian security forces have dismantled a large-scale illegal mining settlement in the Subri Forest Reserve, reigniting debates over national security and environmental protection.
A joint operation by the Forestry Commission and Armed Forces on April 15 targeted Abrewa Ninkrane, a remote enclave in the Western Region inhabited by thousands of miners, many suspected to be foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Authorities burned makeshift camps, equipment, and wooden brothels in a bid to curb rampant deforestation and pollution caused by illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey.
Senyo Hosi, Convener of civil society group One Ghana Movement, issued a stark warning during an April 19 appearance on TV3’s Key Points, demanding an investigation into how foreign miners established an autonomous, unmapped community within the reserve. “This is a national security issue,” Hosi stated. “Are we safe as a country when foreigners infiltrate and create their own settlements? It is disgraceful and terrifying.” He called for ruthless measures against armed galamsey operators, who he claimed openly attack security forces, declaring Ghana a “failing state” in need of urgent presidential intervention.
The raid revealed startling operational details. Western Regional Forestry Manager Nana Kwabena Bosompim estimated over 10,000 miners occupied the site, far exceeding initial projections of 2,000. The enclave included functional hubs with shelters doubling as commercial centers, underscoring the trade’s sophistication. Bosompim warned miners to vacate protected areas or face legal action, adding that security personnel would remain stationed there for two weeks to prevent resurgence. “Young girls abandon education to engage in prostitution here,” he said. “This devastation must stop.”
Ghana, Africa’s second-largest gold producer, has long struggled to balance economic needs with environmental preservation. Illegal mining has destroyed forests, contaminated water sources, and fueled cross-border crime. While recent raids signal renewed enforcement efforts, systemic challenges persist, including corruption, limited resources, and the involvement of transnational networks.
The Abrewa Ninkrane operation highlights a critical tension: the clash between immediate security actions and the need for sustainable solutions. With global gold prices soaring and local unemployment high, experts argue that lasting progress requires formalizing artisanal mining, strengthening border surveillance, and addressing the economic desperation driving both Ghanaian youth and foreign migrants toward galamsey. For now, the scorched remnants of the enclave serve as a visceral reminder of the stakes a nation’s ecological future hinges on its ability to transform enforcement into enduring reform.
