What was once thought to be a concealed hub of illegal mining turned out to be a fully-fledged underground city, as military forces and officials from the Forestry Commission raided the sprawling galamsey settlement known as Abrewua Nkwanta within the Subri River Forest Reserve in the western region.
The early morning operation, part of a coordinated two-week campaign to reclaim Ghana’s depleting forest reserves, exposed not just illegal mining activities but a complex web of criminal enterprises flourishing deep in the forest.
Authorities were shocked to discover a thriving settlement of over 10,000 people—five times the number they had anticipated.
A City Hidden in the Forest
Abrewua Nkwanta, long off the radar of mainstream society, had grown into a self-contained enclave complete with makeshift housing, shops, and illicit services.
Described by officials as an “ECOWAS community,” the enclave housed nationals from across West Africa—including Nigeria, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.
“This place is a full representation of the West African sub-region, and it’s shocking to see it grow undetected in a forest reserve,” said one senior officer involved in the operation.
“There’s no official governance here—only lawlessness.”
Dark Economy: Drugs, Prostitution, and Counterfeiting
Beyond its mining operations, Abrewua Nkwanta was sustained by a shadow economy that included drug abuse, child prostitution, money laundering, and suspected human trafficking.
During the raid, military personnel rescued several young Nigerian girls believed to have been trafficked into the area under false pretenses.
One young woman revealed that she had been deceived by a “madam” into coming to Ghana for work, only to be forced into the sex trade.
Boys as young as their early teens were also found in the settlement, many suffering from drug addiction, particularly to the opioid-like drug tramadol.
Counterfeit currency operations were also reportedly being run within the camp.
“This is not just about illegal mining,” a forestry official stressed.
“We are looking at a wide criminal network that exploits people, destroys our forests, and undermines national security.”
Environmental Devastation
The Subri River Forest Reserve, a critical environmental zone in the Western Region, has suffered immense damage as a result of the mining.
Satellite images and on-the-ground inspections reveal widespread deforestation, polluted rivers, and destroyed ecosystems.
“There are no mining pits within the community itself—they’re digging straight into the forest reserve,” officials noted.
“The environmental impact is devastating, and if we don’t stop it now, we’ll lose the forest completely.”
A Long Battle Ahead
The raid marks just the beginning of what authorities say will be an extended operation.
Security forces plan to remain in the area for at least two weeks to ensure the complete dismantling of the enclave.
This includes evacuating all illegal occupants, destroying structures used for illegal activities, and beginning restoration efforts.
“I’m sending a clear message to all illegal miners: get out of our reserves, get out of our rivers,” one commanding officer warned. “We will not allow this to continue.”
–BY Daniel Bampoe
