The government has successfully reclaimed seven out of nine forest reserves that had been completely taken over by illegal miners, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has announced.

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Addressing the press in Accra, the minister disclosed that a coordinated security operation, involving the military, police, and the Forestry Commission’s rapid response unit, was instrumental in recovering the reserves over the past month.

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"I'm proud to tell you, with the cooperation of the security agencies and the military, we have taken back seven of these nine forests, and we are working very hard to ensure that the remaining two are fully reclaimed," he stated.

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He revealed that the operation resulted in the seizure of at least 60 excavators, a significant move in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

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The minister assured the public that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining two reserves, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources.

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"Everything possible is being done to reclaim the remaining two forest reserves," he affirmed.

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Commending the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence for their support, he also urged citizens to actively participate in safeguarding the environment by promoting responsible mining practices.

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In February, the minister informed Parliament that more than nine forest reserves had fallen under the control of illegal miners, making them inaccessible to authorities. He further revealed that illegal mining activities had led to the destruction of approximately 5,000 hectares of land—equivalent to about 7,000 football fields.

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