Illegal miners block Forestry Commission access to 9 reserves

The minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has portrayed a dark reality of the ongoing fight against illegal mining also known as Galamsey in Ghana.
The minister reported that the illegal miners have captured nine forest reservesleaving the Forestry Commission unable to access them.
In his address on Galamsey to parliament on Tuesday, February 19, he metioned how galamsey continues to cause havoc to Ghana’s lands and natural resources.
“Ghana is currently faced with an unprecedented threat to our forest resources and water bodies due largely to illegal, small-scale mining activities, this situation has assumed crisis proportions.
“Over nine out of the 44 forest reserves have been completely taken over by these illegal mining thugs with impunity. The Forestry Commission no longer has access to these forest reserves,” he said.

The minister, however, he reaffirmed the new government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, vowing that it will not relent in the fight. He outlined measures put in place by the Ministry to tackle the galamsey menace.