Three people have been arrested in the Atewa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region as the government steps up efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The arrests took place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during a military-backed operation dubbed Operation Green Shield, spearheaded by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The operation seeks to drive illegal miners out of the reserve and maintain a sustained security presence to prevent them from returning.
Speaking during the exercise, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah described the destruction of forest reserves through galamsey as a national emergency.
“We are at war with bad people who have decided that they will make money so that all of us will die,” he declared.
The Minister revealed that illegal mining has affected 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, destroying approximately 8,900 hectares of land, an area equivalent to 12,500 football fields.
He warned that restoring the degraded forest reserves would cost the country billions of dollars.
Mr Buah noted that despite tighter restrictions on excavator movements and the seizure of more than 6,000 machines, illegal miners continue to devise new ways to carry out their activities, including a method locally known as “one leg” mining.
As part of efforts to secure the Atewa Forest, he announced that the government, with support from the Ghana Armed Forces, would establish a military camp within the reserve to sustain the operation and prevent further encroachment.
He praised the security personnel involved in the exercise and urged them to remain committed to the mission.
The Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Col. K.S. Appiah, said Operation Green Shield would follow a structured approach focused on disrupting illegal mining activities, clearing affected areas and maintaining control over them.
“The mission is to disrupt, clear and hold and transition,” he said.
Col. Appiah explained that following the initial enforcement phase, responsibility would be transferred to the Forestry Commission, which is expected to deploy forest guards to ensure continued protection of the reserve.
He added that the operation would also be extended to other areas affected by illegal mining.
The Lands Minister also warned chiefs and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives against turning a blind eye to illegal mining in their jurisdictions, emphasising that local authorities have a shared responsibility to protect the environment.
He said the government plans to strengthen accountability through proposed legislative amendments that would clearly define the roles of traditional authorities and local officials in mining-related processes.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah further urged the public to refrain from politicising the fight against galamsey, cautioning that its consequences extend beyond environmental destruction and pose serious threats to public health and the country’s future.
The Atewa Forest is an important ecological resource and watershed that feeds the Birim, Ayensu and Densu rivers. Protecting the reserve is therefore essential for preserving biodiversity and safeguarding water supplies for surrounding communities.
