Ghana intensifies military-backed operations against illegal mining

Ghana has launched a series of intensified, military-backed operations to combat illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, across its forest reserves. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) is spearheading efforts such as ‘Operation Green Shield’ in the Atewa Forest Reserve and new security measures in the Subri River Forest Reserve.

To prevent miners from returning to cleared areas, the Forestry Commission plans to establish armed security camps equipped with surveillance technology, including CCTV and Starlink connectivity. In the Western Region, NAIMOS recently disrupted sites in the Nzema East Municipality, seizing 22 chanfang machines and destroying various pieces of mining equipment to disrupt supply chains.

Authorities have described the destruction of forest reserves as a national emergency, noting that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have been affected, damaging approximately 8,900 hectares of land. Recent enforcement actions have included the arrest of armed guards at mining sites and the seizure of thousands of excavators. Despite these efforts, officials warn that the situation remains fragile due to the persistence of illegal operators and the high cost of land restoration.