Illegal Miners Armed with Sophisticated Weapons Take Over Forest Reserves
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has disclosed that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves are currently under severe threat from heavily armed illegal small-scale miners (galamseyers).
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, February 20, the Minister revealed that the Forestry Commission’s guards and rapid response teams are unable to combat these illegal miners due to the sophisticated weapons the miners possess. He described the situation as having reached a crisis level with dire national security and public health implications.
“Out of the 288 forest reserves, a whopping 44 are under serious attack by illegal miners. These miners are heavily armed, violent, and operate with a large number of excavators, making it extremely difficult for forest guards to control them,” he said.
The Minister further noted that over nine of the 44 reserves have been completely taken over, leaving the Forestry Commission without access to these areas.
Before this submission, Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, had reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining. He admitted that some politicians are complicit in galamsey activities but assured that profound measures were being implemented to combat the issue and restore water bodies.
“By the will of God, within a few months, Ghanaians will see drastic changes regarding our water bodies and the fight against galamsey,” he promised.