Seven out of the nine forest reserves that were completely overrun by illegal miners have been successfully reclaimed, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra today, the minister revealed that a joint security task force—comprising the military, police, and the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team—conducted sustained operations over the past month to reclaim the affected reserves.
“The operations led to the confiscation of at least 60 excavators,” he added.
He assured the public that “everything possible” was being done to reclaim the remaining two forest reserves.
“I’m proud to tell you, with the cooperation of the security agencies and the military, we have taken back seven of these nine forests, and we are working very hard to ensure that the remaining two are fully reclaimed,” the minister stated.
He commended the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence for their support and called on the public to join efforts to ensure sustainable mining practices that protect the country’s natural resources.
