Galamsey Queen Caged for Invading Jimira Forest

A BRAVE lady, who uses pick-axes and shovels to dig the forest reserve in search of gold, has been arrested and caged.

Afia Cynthia was nabbed alongside eight strongmen, whilst they were busily digging for gold in the Jimira Forest Reserve on Wednesday.

Cynthia’s accomplices are Adunai, Kwaku Gyamfi, Agyei Bernard, Haruna Seidu, Daniel Agyei, Abdullai Iddrisu, Kwame Kwakye and Michael Gyamfi.

They were arrested by the Nkawie Forestry Commission officials, who had kept surveillance on the illegal miners for some time now.

Local officials have described the arrest of Cynthia and her group as a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal mining in the area.

Briefing the PUBLISHER NEWSPAPER, Nana Poku Bosompem, the Nkawie Forestry Commission boss, said activities of the group had been a source of worry to them lately.

According to him, even though the group had been operating for a long time, they surprisingly intensified their activities in the area after government placed a ban on illegal mining, also known as ‘Galamsey’.

He said because Cynthia and her group use pick-axes and shovels to dig for gold in the forest, it is very difficult to spot and arrest them.

Nana Bosompem disclosed that upon a tip off, the Nkawie Forest Commission Task Force laid ambush in the area and finally succeeded in apprehending and arresting the nine, who had since been handed over to the police.

Source: Afua Sarpong Amankwa/ thePublisher