The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has announced major strides in the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, revealing significant arrests and equipment seizures across the country.

Speaking at the latest edition of the Government Accountability Series in Accra, the Minister disclosed that 425 excavators and other machinery have been seized in recent operations targeting illegal mining activities nationwide.

He further revealed that a total of 1,345 individuals have been arrested, with many of the cases currently at various stages of prosecution.

“These arrests and seizures are clear evidence of our government's unwavering commitment to ending illegal mining and restoring Ghana’s degraded lands,” Mr. Kofi-Buah stated.

He also highlighted the contribution of the Forestry Commission to the anti-galamsey efforts.

As part of its operations, the Commission has seized:

177 excavators

4 bulldozers

12 vehicles

43 motorcycles

155 water pumping machines

184 changfangs (floating mining machines)

15 metal detector machines

10 heavy-duty generators

The Minister emphasised that these actions form part of a broader strategy to reclaim Ghana’s forests, water bodies, and farmlands from illegal miners.

He assured the public that the government will continue to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and hold offenders accountable.

The crackdown is part of President John Mahama’s renewed push to tackle environmental degradation and promote responsible mining practices, especially in rural communities severely affected by galamsey activities.