Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has announced that the John Mahama-led government will declare all water bodies and forest reserves security zones.
The Lands minister warned that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining within these protected areas will do so at their own risk.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah detailed, “We are moving another step further, and that step says we are going to declare all the water bodies and our forests security zones. And you stay there and engage in illegal mining activity at your own risk. That is the step,”
“When the President said that we are going to use all the steps, that’s what he meant. And so I’m very confident. How can people leave red zones for you when you come and clear within nine months? And those people who have caused the damage have the audacity to be talking?” he said.
He added, “I think that the Attorney General is on top of this matter, and anybody engaged in illegal mining, we don’t care who you are or how politically connected, we will arrest and prosecute you”.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah further assured that the government will ensure the strict and impartial prosecution of illegal mining offenders.
He stressed, “We don’t care who you are or how politically connected you may be. Anyone arrested will be prosecuted. This time, there are no calls from anybody, no interference”.
“We are not only enforcing the law, we are reforming it. Our aim is to stop the bleeding, restore our rivers, and ensure that mining is done responsibly,” he said.
The Lands minister had earlier issued a stern warning to illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers.
The land minister revealed President John Mahama’s focus is clear as he wants to take direct control of every river body.
According to the lands minister, there will be a clear occupation by security agencies on all Ghana’s river bodies.
Armah-Kofi Buah warned galamseyers violating and destroying water bodies to stop, as the government is determined to turn the water blue again.
Speaking during an anti-galamsey operation with officers of the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Ankobra River from Wiawso Armah-Kofi Buah stated, “We are sending a warning to anybody who has been violating our laws and destroying our water bodies. We are determined to turn them blue again.
“This order has already been given — stay out, or you do so at your own peril,”
“We are moving to another major phase of our fight against illegal mining. There is no law in Ghana that allows anybody to mine in any river body,” he said. “Yet, our major rivers that are key to our survival are being destroyed.”
“In the coming months, you will see a new shift. President Mahama’s focus is clear — we are going to take direct control of every river body. There will be a clear occupation by our security forces on all the major rivers,” he said.
Additionally, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has revealed that the John Mahama-led government will intensify their fight against galamsey.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the military will be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas.
The minister highlighted that, unlike in the past administration, where security forces would conduct short-term operations before withdrawing, the military will be stationed permanently in the galamsey areas.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday, September 16, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “All the 44 areas that are threatened by galamsey, there is going to be a permanent military presence”.
“In the past, they would go and flush out the characters engaged in galamsey and then leave, but now they will have a permanent military presence”.
He added, “All the rivers we have will have a permanent military presence”.
See the post below:
Galamsey Fight: Government to declare all water bodies and forest reserves security zones – Lands Minister#GBCNews#GTVBreakfast pic.twitter.com/uBPvy6DYbu
— GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) September 24, 2025