Operation GREEN SHIELD kills one suspect in Atiwa Forest shootout

A military-led enforcement operation in the Atiwa Forest Reserve resulted in the death of one suspected illegal miner and the injury of another following a heavy exchange of gunfire on November 2, 2026. The incident occurred during an intensive patrol by Operation GREEN SHIELD, a task force managed by the Anti-Small-Scale Mining Operations Brigade (ASOB). No casualties or injuries were reported among the security forces during the confrontation, which targeted a large-scale illegal mining site within the protected reserve.

The operation was initiated after security operatives used drone surveillance to pinpoint the location of illegal activities deep within the forest. Upon arriving at the site via a foot patrol, the team encountered approximately 50 suspected miners who allegedly opened fire on the officers. The ensuing gun battle lasted several hours, beginning around 11 a.m. and concluding by late afternoon. In the exchange, security personnel returned fire, resulting in one fatality and one injury.

Following the skirmish, security forces arrested four individuals at the scene, identified as three Malian nationals and one Ghanaian citizen. The operatives also seized two pump-action guns and six rounds of ammunition. The injured suspect was provided with immediate first aid before being transported to the Kyebi Government Hospital for further medical treatment. All four detainees have since been handed over to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for investigation and prosecution.

This latest clash highlights the persistent challenges facing the fight against illegal mining in ecologically sensitive areas. The Atiwa Forest Reserve remains a high-priority zone for security forces following the declaration of a national emergency to protect Ghana's natural resources and water bodies. Government officials have indicated that missions like Operation GREEN SHIELD will continue until illegal mining camps are dismantled and the forest reserves are fully secured.