8,900 hectares of forest reserves destroyed by galamsey – Armah-Kofi Buah

The government’s intensified campaign against illegal mining (galamsey) has resulted in the arrest of 258 suspects and the seizure or immobilisation of thousands of pieces of mining equipment, but the prosecution of those arrested remains a major concern. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the effectiveness of the anti-galamsey campaign could not be measured by arrests and seizures alone, stressing the need to ensure that cases reach their logical conclusion in court. “The challenge we are having is not the arrest.

It is the prosecution.” Mr Buah made the disclosure at a policy engagement with the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Accra, where he discussed the challenges inherited by the government, ongoing reforms and measures being implemented to address illegal mining. 258 arrested According to the minister, 258 suspects had been arrested in operations targeting illegal mining in forest reserves as of July 2026. However, the Ministry did not provide a corresponding breakdown of how many of the suspects had been charged, prosecuted or convicted, or how many cases remained pending.

Mr Buah said the ministry was working with the Attorney-General’s Department to address the difficulties associated with prosecuting illegal mining cases. The issue puts the spotlight on the justice component of the government’s anti-galamsey drive, particularly whether enforcement operations can produce lasting results if arrests do not translate into successful prosecutions and convictions. The Ministry’s enforcement figures show that 200 excavators had been seized and 34 immobilised by July 2026.

The authorities had also seized 1,469 pumping machines, 950 changfan machines, 48 tricycles, 285 motorbikes and 82 gold detectors. A further 1,259 pumping machines and 774 changfan machines had been immobilised, while 801 structures had also been immobilised during operations in forest reserves. 8,900 hectares degraded Mr Buah also disclosed that approximately 8,900 hectares of forest reserves had been completely degraded through illegal mining and other destructive activities.

Nine forest reserves were identified as among the worst affected. According to the minister, some of the affected areas had become difficult for Forestry Commission officials to access because of the activities of illegal miners, including the reported presence … About 8,900 hectares of Ghana’s forest reserves have been completely degraded through illegal mining (galamsey) and other destructive activities, according to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

Mr Buah said nine forest reserves were among the worst affected by illegal mining, with some areas becoming increasingly difficult for Forestry Commission officials to access because of attacks, violence and the presence of weapons. Speaking during a policy engagement with the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Accra on Thursday, August 13, the minister said the extent of the destruction was greater than previously estimated. The IMANI delegation was led by its Founding President and Chief Executive Officer, Franklin Cudjoe, and included Vice-President for Strategy Selorm Branttie, writer and IMANI associate Kay Codjoe, and IMANI associate Ransford Brobbey.