- Only 40 out of 800 illegal miners prosecuted in Ghana
- 44 forest reserves under threat from illegal mining
- Minister calls for stronger enforcement to combat galamsey
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that only 40 individuals have been prosecuted out of more than 800 illegal miners, describing the prosecution rate as “inadequate.”
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, February 19, Mr. Buah acknowledged the significant challenges in the ongoing fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
“In the last few years, the numbers for prosecution for illegal mining are not very encouraging. Out of over 800, the people who have been prosecuted are less than 40. So we need to look at that area as well,” he remarked.
The Minister also provided alarming details regarding the impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s forest reserves, disclosing that 44 out of the country’s 288 forest reserves are severely threatened by illegal mining activities, with over 5,000 hectares of land already destroyed.
Nine forest reserves have reportedly been completely overrun by armed illegal miners, making these areas inaccessible to Forestry Commission officials who, according to Mr. Buah, are ill-equipped with the necessary resources to reclaim the land.
Mr. Buah stressed the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures to combat the growing menace of illegal mining in the country.
