President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana is making progress in the fight against illegal mining, as government intensifies efforts to reclaim forest reserves affected by galamsey.
Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region, President Mahama said the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has stepped up operations, leading to the seizure of excavators and changfang machines and the removal of illegal miners from several forest reserves.
He said nearly 49 forest reserves had been invaded by illegal miners, but many have now been cleared.
According to the President, government initially handed the reclaimed reserves to the Forestry Commission. However, illegal miners often returned because forest guards struggled to keep them away.
He explained that government has therefore begun deploying military personnel to some reclaimed reserves to prevent illegal miners from returning.
President Mahama acknowledged that maintaining the military presence requires additional resources, but insisted that government would not abandon the fight.
He said protecting Ghana’s forests, water bodies and other natural resources remains a priority, stressing that the country must sustain efforts to reverse the damage caused by illegal mining.
