The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has disclosed that the government will soon declare all forest reserves and water bodies in the country as national security zones in a renewed push to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on GTV on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Mr Buah said the initiative is intended to safeguard Ghana’s critical natural resources and provide lasting protection against destruction.
“The President has made it very clear that we are moving all the water bodies and the forest reserves into national security zones, which means they will become no-go areas. We are now preparing to deploy permanent military to these areas,” he announced.
The minister explained that the presence of a dedicated military force within the declared zones would serve as a powerful deterrent to illegal miners whose activities have polluted rivers, degraded farmland, and destroyed forest cover.
According to him, declaring such areas as high-security zones underscores the government’s determination to adopt a tougher stance in the fight against galamsey.
The announcement comes amid growing public pressure on the government to intensify its crackdown on illegal mining. Civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and citizens have in recent months demanded decisive measures to reverse the damage caused by galamsey to water bodies, including the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin rivers, as well as forest reserves across the country.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that unless urgent steps are taken, Ghana risks losing its fresh water resources within decades, with severe consequences for public health, agriculture, and energy supply.
Mr Buah assured the public that the government’s approach this time will be comprehensive and sustained: “This is not going to be another one-off operation. We are instituting permanent structures to ensure that our forests and water bodies are protected for generations to come.”
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