President John Mahama has disclosed the extent of illegal mining activities on Ghana’s 288 forest reserves.
Mahama disclosed that out of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, 48 have been affected.
According to John Mahama, the affected reserves have since been recovered and are undergoing reclamation.
Speaking at the Mining in Motion conference on Monday, October 19, President Mahama stated, “We have 288 forest reserves, and of these forest reserves, 48 of them had been penetrated by illegal miners,” he said at the conference in Accra.
“And of the 48, 9 were declared red zones, which means the forest guards could not enter those reserves because the illegal miners were fully armed,” he added.
“I am happy to note that of those 9 red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners, and are currently preparing those forest reserves for reclamation,” Mr John Mahama noted.
President Mahama further revealed that his government has achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
Mahama disclosed that 135 excavators and nearly 200 firearms have been seized as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.
According to John Mahama, over 8,200 items, including changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining, had also been seized.
He stated, “We have achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining. We have confiscated more than 8,200 items. This includes changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining”.
“We’ve confiscated 135 excavators that were being used in illegal mining, and we have retrieved almost 200 firearms that the people involved in illegal mining had,” he added.
President Mahama further revealed that illegal miners had encroached on 48 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, with some areas designated as red zones.
He stated, “I’m happy to note that of those nine red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners and are currently preparing those forest reserves for reclamation”.
Mahama disclosed that illegal mining had destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land across the country, revealing that efforts are underway to reclaim degraded areas.
He further praised the GoldBod for awarding the Ghana Armed Forces a contract to reclaim 253 acres of land destroyed by galamseyers in the Tano Nimri Forest.
Earlier, President John Dramani Mahama had declared nine forest reserves in Ghana free of illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
According to Mahama, soldiers will remain stationed in nine forest reserves cleared of illegal mining to prevent operators from returning to the sites.
Mahama stressed that the decision followed previous experiences in which illegal miners returned to the reserves after military personnel deployed to flush them out had withdrawn.
President Mahama disclosed that all nine forest reserves previously designated as red zones due to the extensive destruction and the presence of heavily armed illegal miners had been cleared, with troops deployed to protect the areas.
Speaking during a courtesy call by chiefs from the Western North Region, Mahama stated, “We have now cleared all nine of those red zones. There are no galamsey operators in those forest reserves, and we have stationed soldiers there to ensure that the illegal miners do not return. The soldiers will remain in those areas”.
He further called for stronger collaboration with traditional authorities to sustain the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mahama also noted that previous efforts to clear some forest reserves had failed because illegal miners returned shortly after soldiers withdrew.
“Whenever forest guards went there, they were fired upon, and some lost their lives,” he said.
President Mahama further disclosed that the GoldBod and the military will support forest restoration.
He revealed that the GoldBod had begun engaging the military in a programme to reclaim destroyed forest areas and replant them with trees.
Mahama detailed that under the programme, bulldozers would be used to level degraded land, while the Forestry Commission would work with the military on reclamation and reforestation.
Also, President Mahama also announced that the Finance Minister had allocated GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to recruit additional Blue Water Guards to patrol water bodies and intensify the fight against illegal mining.
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