Galamsey: Soldiers to stay in nine cleared forest reserves - Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that soldiers will remain stationed in nine forest reserves cleared of illegal mining to prevent galamsey operators from returning to the areas.

He said the decision was informed by previous experiences in which illegal miners returned to forest reserves shortly after military personnel deployed to remove them had withdrawn.

President Mahama said all nine forest reserves previously designated as red zones because of extensive environmental destruction and the presence of heavily armed illegal miners had been cleared, with troops now deployed to protect the areas.

“We have now cleared all nine of those red zones. There are no galamsey operators in those forest reserves, and we have stationed soldiers there to ensure that the illegal miners do not return. The soldiers will remain in those areas,” he said.

The President made the announcement during a courtesy call by chiefs from the Western North Region, where he called for stronger collaboration with traditional authorities to sustain the fight against illegal mining.

He explained that previous operations to clear forest reserves had not achieved lasting results because illegal miners often returned after soldiers withdrew and forest guards resumed responsibility for protecting the areas.

“Whenever forest guards went there, they were fired upon, and some lost their lives,” he said, highlighting the dangers faced by personnel tasked with safeguarding the reserves.

President Mahama urged traditional authorities to support the government’s anti-galamsey campaign, particularly in communities where some young people and traditional leaders had resisted operations by the National Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS).

He stressed that the involvement of chiefs was essential because of their influence within their communities and their ability to help address local factors contributing to illegal mining.

The President also expressed concern about incidents in which soldiers had discharged firearms during enforcement operations, resulting in deaths.

He said stronger engagement with communities and closer collaboration with traditional leaders were necessary to minimise casualties while protecting forest reserves and water bodies from further destruction.

Government steps up forest restoration

On efforts to restore lands degraded by illegal mining, President Mahama said Goldbod had begun engaging the military in a programme to reclaim damaged forest areas and replant them with economic trees.

Under the initiative, bulldozers would be deployed to level degraded land, while the Forestry Commission would work with the military to undertake reclamation and reforestation.

The programme is intended to restore damaged landscapes and support the recovery of forest ecosystems affected by illegal mining activities.

GH¢400m allocated for Blue Water Guards

President Mahama also announced that the Finance Minister had allocated GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to recruit additional Blue Water Guards to patrol water bodies and intensify efforts to combat illegal mining.

He said the guards had been directed to destroy changfang machines used for illegal mining whenever they encountered them during their operations.

According to the President, several of the machines had already been destroyed, contributing to the clearance of major river channels.

He, however, noted that illegal mining in tributaries continued to introduce mud and silt into rivers, undermining efforts to restore water quality.

The President said the government’s response to galamsey must extend beyond enforcement to address the economic conditions driving young people into illegal mining.

He emphasised the need for sustained security operations, environmental restoration and community cooperation to protect the country’s forests and water bodies while creating alternative economic opportunities for affected communities.

Source: Sekunde FM