Atewa Forest Reserve
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced plans to launch Operation Green Shield at the Atewa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region as part of efforts to combat illegal mining (galamsey) and strengthen forest protection.
NAIMOS Director, Col. Kwame Appiah, announced the planned operation at a media engagement in Accra on Thursday, October 22, 2026, saying it would target priority areas, prevent illegal miners from returning and establish conditions for sustained protection.
The announcement comes amid renewed concerns over illegal mining in the reserve, following warnings from civil society organisations, including A Rocha Ghana, about the threats mining poses to the forest. The Okyehene has also warned that illegal mining in Atewa is becoming a national security concern and has sought a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama.
The Atewa Forest Reserve is an important source of water for the Birim, Ayensu and Densu river systems and is recognised for its ecological importance.
Listen to Colonel Appiah in the attached audio below:
Col. Appiah said Operation Green Shield would be implemented in three stages: clearing and disrupting illegal mining activities, holding and stabilising cleared areas, and sustaining protection to prevent renewed incursions.
“Specially trained personnel will conduct forest operations, followed by sustained patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal miners from returning,” he said.
The intended outcome, according to the NAIMOS director, is to clear and stabilise priority illegal mining hotspots before progressively transferring routine protection responsibilities to Forestry Protection Guards.
Col. Appiah said the approach was intended to ensure that forest protection continued after intensive enforcement operations ended.
Watch the full media briefing below:
“After enforcement operations, we cannot remain permanently in those areas. We must be able to hand over to other agencies to take over and prevent illegal mining,” he said.
He did not specify a timeline for the commencement or completion of the operation.
The planned intervention follows reported arrests of about 50 people in connection with illegal mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve between January and September 2026. The available information indicates that no prosecutions had been recorded in those cases as of the time of the announcement.
Col. Appiah also highlighted the logistical requirements for sustained anti-illegal mining operations, including mobility, serviceable boats, reliable communications and deployment support.
He said the recovery of heavy equipment was necessary to secure seized machinery and prevent it from being returned to illegal mining activities.
The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had committed to providing the logistical support and funding required to sustain NAIMOS operations, he added.
Operation Green Shield is expected to complement NAIMOS’ wider enforcement efforts, including Operation Water Shield, which targets illegal mining activities affecting river systems.
The effectiveness of the planned intervention will depend on the clearance of illegal mining hotspots, continued surveillance and the ability of the responsible agencies to maintain protection after the initial enforcement phase.
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
