Galamsey: Security forces reclaim 8 of 9 forest ‘Red Zones’

President John Mahama has disclosed that eight of the nine most dangerous forest reserves previously under the control of heavily armed illegal miners have been successfully reclaimed by Ghana’s security forces, with the final operation currently underway.

Speaking at the World Environment Day celebration at Kwabenya in Accra on Thursday, June 5, President Mahama commended the joint efforts of the military, police, and other stakeholders in confronting illegal mining activities that had turned parts of the country’s forest reserves into “no-go zones.”

“As I speak, we have seized 300 excavators from illegal miners. Nine forest reserves were considered red zones because the miners were armed to the teeth. Working with the security agencies, we’ve managed to evict them from eight of those areas,” he stated.

Ghana has a total of 288 forest reserves, of which 44 have been invaded by illegal small-scale miners. The nine red zones were identified as the most dangerous due to the presence of heavily armed groups, prompting the government to prioritise their reclamation.

With eight of the nine red zones now secured, the President noted that the focus will shift to reclaiming the remaining 35 invaded forest reserves.

Mahama also highlighted the broader environmental threat posed by illegal mining, warning that Ghana’s water resources are at risk. “Our rivers take their source from our forests. If we destroy the forests, our rivers will dry up. That’s why this fight is critical,” he cautioned.

The operation forms part of a broader national strategy to restore degraded forestlands, combat environmental degradation, and protect vital water bodies affected by illegal mining—locally known as galamsey.

The President’s remarks came as Ghana marked World Environment Day 2025 under the global theme: “Restore Our Earth: From Words to Action.”