By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Defence Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah, has warned individuals or groups engaged in illegal mining in forest reserves to stop, as the government will no longer tolerate such activities.
He has also urged all illegal miners mining in forest reserves and water belts who still have their machinery in those forbidding areas to evacuate their items immediately.
The unchecked activities of galamsey operators have led to widespread deforestation, destruction of farmlands, and severe pollution of major rivers and water bodies, including the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin Rivers.
The menace of galamsey has been a long-standing issue in Ghana, with successive governments struggling to curb its devastating effects despite numerous interventions.
In many areas, entire ecosystems have been decimated, leaving once-thriving agricultural lands barren and communities grappling with water shortages due to contamination by toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.
Dr. Omane Boamah issued the warning through his official Facebook page, adding that anyone interested in mining must follow due legal procedures.
“In the name of God and Ghana, stay away from the forest reserves and galamsey! A word to the wise is enough!” he retorted.
His comment follows a joint operation by the Forestry Commission and the military, which led to the seizure of 10 excavators and a bulldozer and the arrest of four individuals involved in illegal mining within the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region.
The operation, which took place on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve, follows multiple attempts by forestry officials to remove illegal miners from the area.
Commenting on the raid, Dr. Omane Boamah emphasised the need for illegal miners to respect the sanctity of Ghana’s forest reserves and cease activities that threaten the nation’s ecological balance.
