The Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Nana Poku Bosompim, has confirmed the successful demolition of major illegal slums that served as safe havens for illegal mining activities in the region.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ Newsfile on Saturday, April 19, Mr Bosompim stated that the slums, including Abrewa Ne Nkran, Jerusalem, and another near Wassa Nkran, were completely destroyed during a coordinated raid.
Mr Bosompim, who has been in the role for just two months, noted that his predecessor had already flagged the area as a major threat. Despite previous raids—three in total—the slum residents always managed to regroup. Determined to put a stop to it, the new Regional Manager made it his top priority.
“My priority after taking over as the region manager was to make sure that slUm is removed so that we save that portion of the forest. So quickly, we put a team together. We had the support of the General Officer Commanding Southern Command, who released officers to support the forestry officers. And as you heard of the operation last week, Monday, we were able to raid the camp and completely eradicate that slum, not just with that one [Abrewa ne nkran], it was the second, bigger one called Jerusalem, and the third one around Wassa Nkran area.
“So as of today, I can tell you those illegal slums that served as a haven for illegal miners have been razed down. They are all lying in desolate ruins,” he said.
[embedded content]He disclosed that the slum had become a magnet not just for Ghanaian illegal miners, but also for nationals from about eight different West African countries.
Despite the raid, Mr Bosompim warned that the threat of reoccupation remains. “Just a day after razing the area, we noticed attempts to rebuild. This time, they were laying foundations and using cement blocks, not wood. It shows they are determined to return,” he said.
To prevent the resurgence of these illegal settlements, the Forestry Commission has introduced a new strategy involving regular patrols and tighter surveillance, noting that “We’re not going to let this happen again. The goal is to ensure that these camps are never rebuilt.”
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