President John Dramani Mahama has announced that all nine forest reserves designated as red zones due to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, have been cleared of miners, describing the development as a significant achievement in the government’s efforts to combat the menace.

Speaking at the second edition of the Mining in Motion Summit, the President said the government had intensified operations against illegal mining, resulting in the confiscation of thousands of items and equipment used in the activity.

He also announced that the government had allocated GH¢200 million for the reclamation of 5,000 acres of land degraded by illegal mining, with work expected to begin in 2027.

The two announcements form part of the government’s broader efforts to protect Ghana’s forest reserves, curb illegal mining and restore lands affected by the environmentally destructive practice.

More than 8,200 items confiscated in galamsey crackdownPresident Mahama disclosed that more than 8,200 items, including excavators, chamfering machines and other equipment used in illegal mining, had been confiscated as part of the ongoing crackdown.

He further revealed that security agencies had seized 135 excavators deployed for illegal mining and retrieved nearly 200 firearms from individuals involved in the activity.

The seizures, according to the President’s remarks, reflect the scale of the government’s enforcement efforts against illegal mining operations.

The use of heavy machinery in galamsey has been a major concern because of its potential to accelerate land degradation, destroy vegetation and damage water bodies.

The recovery of firearms also highlights the security challenges associated with illegal mining, particularly in areas where armed individuals pose risks to forest guards and other personnel tasked with protecting natural resources.

Nine forest reserves cleared after being designated red zonesProviding details on the situation in Ghana’s forest reserves, President Mahama said the country has a total of 288 forest reserves, 48 of which had been invaded by illegal miners.

Of these affected reserves, nine were designated as red zones because miners operating in the areas were heavily armed.

The presence of armed miners made it difficult for forest guards to enter the affected areas and perform their duties safely.President Mahama said all nine red-zone reserves had now been cleared of miners, describing the development as a major step in efforts to reclaim protected areas from illegal mining activities.

The clearance is significant because forest reserves play an important role in protecting biodiversity, maintaining ecological balance and safeguarding water resources.

Illegal mining within these protected areas can result in the destruction of vegetation, the disruption of wildlife habitats and long-term damage to the natural environment.

However, sustained monitoring and enforcement will be important to prevent miners from returning to the cleared areas.

Government allocates GH¢200 million for land reclamation

In a related announcement, President Mahama disclosed that the government had allocated GH¢200 million for the reclamation of 5,000 acres of land destroyed by illegal mining.

The reclamation exercise is expected to begin in 2027 as part of efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands and forest reserves.

According to the President, illegal mining has destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land across the country, underscoring the scale of the environmental damage that needs to be addressed.

The planned investment is intended to support the restoration of affected areas and form part of the government’s wider response to the consequences of galamsey.

Land reclamation involves rehabilitating damaged landscapes to improve their environmental condition and, where possible, restore their capacity to support vegetation and other ecological functions.

The effectiveness of such interventions will depend on appropriate reclamation methods, adequate funding, effective implementation and long-term monitoring of restored sites.

The announced allocation of GH¢200 million is expected to support work on 5,000 acres, although further implementation details, including the specific locations to be covered and the scope of the planned works, were not provided in the announcement.

Environmental destruction remains a major concernThe estimated 12,000 acres of land destroyed by illegal mining, as cited by the President, highlights the extent of the reclamation challenge facing the country.

Galamsey has remained a major environmental concern because of the damage it can cause to land, forests and water bodies.

Mining activities carried out without the required authorisation and environmental safeguards can leave extensive areas degraded, making rehabilitation necessary before the land can regain some of its ecological functions.

The destruction of forest cover can also affect habitats and undermine the environmental services provided by forest reserves.

Against this backdrop, the government’s announced plans combine enforcement measures aimed at removing miners from protected areas with reclamation efforts intended to address existing environmental damage.

Sustaining the fight against galamsey

The clearance of the nine red-zone forest reserves and the planned reclamation of 5,000 acres represent two key aspects of the government’s stated approach to tackling illegal mining.

While the removal of miners from the affected reserves addresses the immediate challenge of illegal occupation, the planned reclamation programme is intended to tackle some of the lasting environmental consequences.

Maintaining the gains will require continued surveillance of cleared forest reserves, enforcement of mining regulations and measures to prevent renewed illegal mining activities.

The success of the reclamation programme will also depend on how effectively the allocated funds are deployed and whether the rehabilitated lands can be protected from further degradation.

President Mahama’s announcements at the Mining in Motion Summit therefore place renewed emphasis on both the enforcement of measures against galamsey and the restoration of lands damaged by the activity.

The government says the clearance of the nine red-zone forest reserves and the planned GH¢200 million reclamation programme form part of its broader efforts to combat illegal mining, protect Ghana’s forest reserves and rehabilitate degraded lands.