President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that his administration has successfully reclaimed nine forest reserves that had previously fallen to illegal mining activities, as part of an intensified national fight against galamsey.
Speaking at a media encounter at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, the President said the government’s approach combines enforcement, reclamation, and restoration to protect the environment and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources for future generations.
“A dedicated national task force is actively combating the menace of illegal mining. As a result of the operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment have been seized, disrupting the networks that have long exploited our lands and our rivers,” President Mahama disclosed.
He noted that of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, 44 had suffered varying degrees of destruction from illegal mining, with nine of those previously classified as no-go zones due to the presence of armed groups.
“Through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and with support from the security agencies, we have successfully repossessed all nine of these red-zoned forest reserves,” he stated.
Beyond the recoveries, the government is also rolling out the Tree for Life initiative to restore lands degraded by illegal mining. Steps are underway to repeal LI 2462, which permitted mining in forest reserves, to legally reinforce the administration’s commitment to preserving these protected areas.
“Let me be clear, since my administration resumed office, not a single license has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves. The repeal of LI 2462 is intended just to crystallize in law what we have already demonstrated in practice,” the President emphasized.
To sustain the gains, government has deployed blue-water guards to patrol major river bodies and prevent further incursions by illegal miners.
Ninety personnel have already been trained and deployed in the Western and Savannah regions, with an additional 1,020 recruits expected by the end of the year, bringing the total force to 2,000.
According to the President, the next phase of the fight will focus on dechemicalizing and restoring polluted water bodies, with feasibility studies already underway. He also announced that tracking systems are being implemented for excavators and heavy equipment at the ports to prevent diversion to illegal mining activities.
“These bold steps demonstrate our clear commitment not only to reclaim what has been lost, but to protect our environment from future harm,” President Mahama concluded.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
