Tension has flared in Samereboi as a group of angry youth blocked roads leading to the Sarmatex Timber Company, protesting the arrest of illegal miners operating in a nearby forest reserve.
According to JoyNews’ Erastus Asare Donkor, the demonstrators, allegedly working for a local chief, obstructed traffic and assaulted some company personnel while demanding the release of the arrested miners.
The Forestry Commission’s Rapid Response Team had apprehended the miners earlier for engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) in a protected reserve.
This incident comes just days after the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) special anti-galamsey task force temporarily withdrew from the area following a series of raids on illegal mining camps.
Despite the crackdown, the defiant miners reportedly returned to the forest, leading to their arrest.
Police in the area have called for reinforcements to restore order, as the blockade continues to disrupt movement in the community. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on whether the detained miners will be prosecuted.
Local leaders are being urged to intervene to prevent further escalation, as illegal mining remains a persistent challenge in Ghana’s forest reserves.
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