Illegal mining activities, popularly referred to as galamsey, continue to cause extensive damage to the environment and water bodies in the country.

Despite efforts by the previous government, the activities are still prevalent, igniting conversations on the need for a state of emergency to be declared on illegal mining and a ban on these activities.

Speaking during a recent interview on Joy News, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, stated that Ghana has lost nearly half of its forest reserves due to illegal mining activities, while stressing the need for urgent attention to combat the menace.

He stated that 44 per cent of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have already been destroyed largely due to illegal mining and logging activities.

“I stood in Parliament and said, ‘we are in a crisis.’ It’s not a political point, it’s a national alarm. Out of 288 forest reserves, 44% have already been destroyed," he noted.

As part of efforts to reclaim the destroyed lands and restore polluted river bodies, the minister, during a media engagement on Monday, March 24, 2025, outlined 5 measures the government intends to implement to strengthen enforcement and promote responsible mining.

Enforcement of Existing Laws

The government is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to crack down on illegal mining activities.

Structural Overhaul

Teams will be reshuffled to man the sites and forest areas to prevent complacency and buffer the existing force to ensure adequate cover in all areas.

Stakeholder Engagements

Traditional leaders, local authorities and the District Security Councils would be involved in the licensing process of miners to improve accountability and efficiency.

Deployment of Technology

The governmet wants to introduce a monitoring system to track mining equipment and activities in real time, making it easier to clamp down on illegal mining activities.

Public Sensitisation

Public awareness campaigns would be scaled up to educate the public and to foster collective responsibility in the fight against the menace.

JKB/AE

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