258 Arrested as Government Declares Major Victory in Fight Against Illegal Mining

Government says its intensified crackdown on illegal mining is producing significant results, with 258 suspects arrested and no forest reserve classified as a “Red Zone” since December 2025.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said the government’s renewed anti-galamsey campaign is beginning to reverse years of environmental destruction while strengthening protection for Ghana’s forests and water bodies.

According to the Minister, security operations carried out in forest reserves led to the arrest of 258 suspects, the seizure of 1,225 pumping machines, the dismantling of 765 chanfan machines, the demobilisation of six excavators, and the destruction of 430 illegal structures.

He described the absence of Red Zones in forest reserves since December 2025 as a major achievement in government’s efforts to reclaim protected areas from illegal miners.

The Minister also highlighted the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which conducted 200 operations across 53 districts between January and June 2026, achieving an 84.1 percent success rate.

Those operations resulted in the arrest of 207 suspects, made up of 161 Ghanaians and 46 foreign nationals. Authorities also seized 78 excavators, immobilised another 90, destroyed 2,800 chanfan machines, demolished 1,244 illegal structures, and recovered 112 pump-action rifles together with 1,637 rounds of ammunition.

To strengthen surveillance of rivers affected by illegal mining, government deployed 452 additional Blue Water Guards, increasing the total number to 2,069 personnel operating across eight regions.

As part of broader reforms, Cabinet revoked Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, restoring the Achimota Forest to its original status as a protected forest reserve.

The Ministry has also launched the Responsible Community Mining Scheme Digital Platform (rCOMSDEP), which has registered more than 9,000 small-scale miners and 700 mining cooperatives to promote responsible mining practices.

Mr. Buah reiterated government’s commitment to pursuing everyone involved in illegal mining, including financiers and organised criminal groups.

“Our rivers are not for sale. Our forests are not expendable. Our mineral wealth is a sacred national inheritance that we have a duty to protect,” he stated.

He stressed that government would continue enforcing the law without fear or favour while calling on traditional leaders, security agencies, the media, and the public to support the fight against illegal mining and environmental degradation.