Ghana Leader Reports Clearance of Armed Miners from 48 Forest Zones

President John Mahama announced that illegal mining has impacted 48 of Ghana's 288 forest reserves. Speaking at the Mining in Motion conference in Accra on Monday, October 19, the head of state explained that these areas have been recovered and are currently undergoing restoration. MyJoyOnline reported that the President noted the presence of heavily armed miners had previously prevented forest guards from accessing these sites, leading to their classification as red zones for enforcement purposes.

According to MyJoyOnline, nine of the affected reserves were designated as red zones due to the intensity of the miner occupation. Mahama stated that all nine have since been cleared, allowing reclamation work to begin. The President commended the teams responsible for the enforcement efforts, acknowledging their success in reclaiming the land. He further disclosed that the total area affected by galamsey amounts to roughly 12,000 acres, with reclamation efforts now underway across these forest reserves.

The President also highlighted the role of private sector partners in land restoration. He specifically praised Newmont for restoring 800 acres of degraded land and converting it for crop production. MyJoyOnline noted that Newmont's Ghana operations include the Ahafo South mine, which began commercial production in 2006, and the Ahafo North mine, which reached commercial production in October 2025. The company sold its Akyem mine in April 2025, leaving Ahafo South and Ahafo North as its active sites in the country.

Enforcement actions have also yielded significant results, with the President revealing that 8,200 items were confiscated during operations against illegal miners. MyJoyOnline reported that these seizures included 135 excavators and over 200 firearms. These efforts were part of a broader strategy to clear the red zones and prepare the forest reserves for reclamation. The conference provided a platform for Mahama to outline the current status of these initiatives, emphasizing that the restoration of the 12,000 affected acres is progressing.