Reports indicate that some unidentified illegal miners are planning to enter and mine in the Neung South Forest Reserve in the Tarkwa District of the Western Region.
Eyewitnesses from nearby communities have sighted three excavator machines and a washing plant parked about 700 meters away from the Forest Reserve.
According to the reports, the illegal miners have set up barriers to prevent Forestry Commission (FC) staff from accessing the Reserve.
The illegal miners blame the FC staff for allegedly failing to intervene when one of their own was reportedly killed by the concession guards of Messrs. Kapsord Mining Limited.
Prior to the arrival of Messrs. Kapsord Mining Limited, the report showed that the illegal miners dominated the area.
However, Messrs. Kapsord Mining Limited have since taken over and set up a security post with their concession guards to protect their assigned portion.
The security post, according to reports, was set ablaze by unknown individuals following a shooting incident between the concession guards and the illegal miners in the area.
Reports also indicated that heavily built armed men in camouflage military uniforms, traveling in a Toyota Pickup, were seen about 100 meters from where the barricades were set up and drove at high speed toward the Reserve.
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