The government is preparing to designate all rivers and forests in Ghana as security zones in a decisive push to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who said the move underscores government’s determination to protect the country’s natural resources from further devastation.
In an interview with the media, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah explained that the measure is intended to give state security agencies greater authority to take firm action against individuals and groups involved in galamsey.
“We are moving another step further, and that step says we are going to declare all the water bodies and our forests security zones. And you stay there and engage in illegal mining activity at your own risk. That is the step”.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
According to him, the directive forms part of a broader strategy outlined by President John Dramani Mahama to eradicate the destructive practice, which has led to severe pollution of major rivers, degradation of farmlands, and the destruction of forest reserves.
“When the President said that we are going to use all the steps, that’s what he meant. And so I’m very confident. How can people leave red zones for you when you come and clear within nine months? And those people who have caused the damage have the audacity to be talking?”
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Declaration Backed by Actions
The Minister emphasized that the government’s approach will not be limited to declarations but will be backed by stringent enforcement.
Declaring rivers and forests as security zones, he said, would empower the police, military, and other law enforcement bodies to move in with greater authority to arrest offenders and dismantle galamsey operations.
This, he stressed, is necessary to restore the environment and safeguard Ghana’s vital water and forest resources for future generations.
Addressing concerns about enforcement, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah noted that the government had already made arrests in connection with galamsey and that cases were progressing through the legal system. the
He disclosed that the Attorney General himself is overseeing the prosecutions, an indication, he argued, of the seriousness with which the matter is being handled.
“I think that the Attorney General is on top of this matter, and anybody engaged in illegal mining, we don’t care who you are or how politically connected, we will arrest and prosecute you”.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
The Minister reiterated that the law will be applied without fear or favour, warning that the days of impunity for politically connected individuals or groups involved in galamsey are over.
He added that the government’s renewed posture is to send a strong message that the fight against illegal mining will be uncompromising and sustained.
The announcement comes at a time when public concern over galamsey remains high. Many rivers, including major sources of drinking water, have been turned brown and polluted due to the activities of illegal miners, raising fears of long-term environmental and public health consequences. Forest reserves, which play a critical role in biodiversity preservation and climate resilience, have also been left scarred and depleted.
Environmentalists and civil society groups have long called for stronger action, arguing that previous measures have not been sufficient to address the menace. The declaration of rivers and forests as security zones is therefore expected to provide a stronger legal and security framework to deal with offenders.
By reclassifying these natural resources as sensitive security areas, the government hopes to deter would-be offenders while ensuring that security agencies can operate with full backing of the law.
While welcoming the bold step, experts caution that enforcement must be consistent, transparent, and free from political interference if the measure is to yield lasting results. The success of the policy, they argue, will depend not only on security crackdowns but also on providing sustainable alternative livelihoods for those who depend on mining for survival.
Hon. Armah Kofi Buah acknowledged these broader challenges but insisted that the immediate priority is to stop the ongoing destruction.
“We cannot sit back and allow a few individuals to destroy the environment we all depend on. This step we are taking is to ensure that those who think they can destroy our water bodies and forests will be stopped once and for all”.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
As Ghana intensifies its fight against galamsey, the designation of rivers and forests as security zones is poised to mark a new chapter in environmental protection. For communities grappling with polluted water and ravaged lands, the government’s resolve offers a glimmer of hope.
Yet, for illegal miners, the message from the Lands and Natural Resources Minister is clear: the state is ready to act, and those who persist in illegal activity will do so at their own peril.
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