"Enforcement against illegal mining within forest reserves has intensified" – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has disclosed that government has significantly intensified enforcement operations against illegal mining within Ghana's forest reserves, leading to hundreds of arrests, the seizure of mining equipment and a marked reduction in illegal mining hotspots across the country.

Addressing the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency on Wednesday, the Minister said the intensified crackdown forms part of government's broader strategy to protect the nation's forests, restore degraded ecosystems and preserve critical water bodies from the devastating effects of illegal mining.

According to Mr Buah, coordinated operations undertaken by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission have yielded substantial results over the past several months.

He revealed that the joint enforcement teams have arrested 258 persons engaged in illegal mining activities within protected forest reserves.

The operations also led to the demobilisation of six excavators and 765 Changfan machines used by illegal miners.

In addition, the security teams seized 1,225 pumping machines that were being used for illegal mining activities and destroyed 430 unauthorised structures and 35 tricycles linked to operations in the affected forest reserves.

Mr Buah said the sustained enforcement campaign has significantly curtailed illegal mining activities in protected areas, stressing that Ghana has not recorded any "Red Zones" in its forest reserves since December 2025.

He described the development as a major milestone in government's efforts to reclaim and safeguard the country's forest resources while strengthening environmental governance.

The Minister explained that the intensified enforcement drive complements ongoing land reclamation initiatives being undertaken by government and its private sector partners.

He disclosed that 1,535 acres of degraded land in the Ashanti Region have already been reclaimed through a partnership with the private sector, which has also committed to restoring an additional 1,500 acres before the end of the year.

Government is separately undertaking reclamation works on another 960 acres of degraded land across various parts of the country.

Mr Buah further highlighted broader reforms being implemented within the forestry sector, including the development of a Legislative Instrument to operationalise the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115).

According to him, the new legal framework will formally recognise Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs), providing communities and landowners with a stronger role in sustainable forest and wildlife management.

He reiterated government's commitment to sustaining the fight against illegal mining through stronger law enforcement, environmental restoration, community participation and institutional reforms aimed at protecting Ghana's forests and natural resources for future generations.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith