The joint anti-illegal mining taskforce led by Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd) has seized 7 excavators and 18 water pumps from illegal miners in the Neung South Forest Reserve.
The operation targeted illegal mining activities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality, particularly Neung South Forest Reserve, an area that has suffered extensive environmental damage.
Sanctioned by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson and supported by the National Security’s Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd), the Second Infantry Battalion, and the Western Naval Command, the operation led to the seizure of seven excavators, eighteen water pumping machines and a pump-action gun.
The team destroyed all makeshift structures at the site.
The Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd) reiterated its commitment to combating the destructive practice, citing its devastating impact on the region’s water bodies and forest reserves.
“An intelligence we had was that there’s a serious illegal mining activity within the Neung South Forest Reserve in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality. During the operation, we discovered seven excavators.
“Unfortunately, two were unserviceable. Of the remaining five, three had their control boards removed. We successfully secured two operational excavators, which have been transferred to the Simpa Police Station. Additionally, we confiscated eighteen water pumping machines and one pump-action gun. The scale of the devastation in the Neung South Forest Reserve underscores the critical need to sustain this effort.
Brigadier Musa Whajah (Rtd)
We anticipate subsequent operations to dismantle all illegal mining networks operating within the reserve.”
Source:Lovinghananews.com
