Lands Minister interacting with the illegal miners in Atewa Forest
Three people have been arrested in the Atewa Forest Reserve during a military-backed operation against illegal mining also known as galamsey.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah described galamsey in Ghana’s forest reserves as a national emergency, warning that it threatens the country’s environment, water resources and future generations.
The arrests were made on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during Operation Green Shield, a military-backed initiative led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to flush out illegal miners and prevent them from returning to cleared areas.
Speaking during the operation, Mr Buah warned that illegal mining was putting the country’s future at risk, describing the pursuit of personal wealth at the expense of the environment as a grave threat to the nation.
“We are at war with bad people who have decided that they will make money so that all of us will die,” he said.
The minister disclosed that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves had been affected by illegal mining, with approximately 8,900 hectares destroyed — an area equivalent to about 12,500 football fields.
He said restoring the degraded forest reserves would impose a significant financial burden on the country, with rehabilitation costs running into billions of dollars.
Despite measures to restrict the entry of excavators into forest reserves, illegal miners continue to devise new ways to carry out their activities, including a practice locally known as “one leg” mining, Mr Buah said.
He said the government was tightening controls on excavators and strengthening enforcement to curb the use of heavy equipment in illegal mining.
As part of Operation Green Shield, the government, with support from the Ghana Armed Forces, plans to establish a security camp inside the Atewa Forest Reserve to sustain operations and prevent illegal miners from returning.
Mr Buah commended the security personnel involved in the operation and urged them to remain resolute, stressing that the government would not relent in its efforts to protect the country’s natural resources.
NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel K. S. Appiah, said the operation would follow a three-stage approach: disrupting illegal mining activities, clearing and holding affected areas, and transitioning responsibility for sustained protection to the Forestry Commission.
“The mission is to disrupt, clear and hold and transition,” he said.
Under the transition phase, the Forestry Commission is expected to deploy forest guards to maintain protection after the initial enforcement operations.
The minister also warned chiefs and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives against turning a blind eye to illegal mining in their jurisdictions. He said traditional authorities and local government officials must share responsibility for protecting forest reserves.
He added that the government intended to strengthen accountability through proposed legislative changes relating to the roles of traditional authorities and local officials in mining-related processes.
Mr Buah further urged the public not to politicise the fight against galamsey, warning that the consequences extend beyond environmental destruction to public health and the security of future generations.
Operation Green Shield was announced by NAIMOS on October 22, 2026. At the time, Colonel Appiah said the operation would target priority areas, prevent illegal miners from returning and establish conditions for sustained forest protection.
The Atewa Forest Reserve is an important ecological asset and watershed supporting the Birim, Ayensu and Densu river systems. Its protection is critical to safeguarding biodiversity and water resources relied on by surrounding communities.
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
