The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, has stated that despite the difficulties associated with tackling illegal mining, recent government interventions have resulted in significant improvements in protecting forest reserves and restoring polluted water bodies.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held to commemorate the first anniversary of the Ghana Air Force helicopter crash, the Deputy Minister said the government was recording steady gains in its efforts to address illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He acknowledged that the campaign against illegal mining has been challenging but insisted that measures implemented in recent months have produced positive outcomes.
“The fight against galamsey hasn’t been an easy one. But we have made significant strides in the last few months,” he said.
According to Mr Sulemana, activities carried out by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), alongside the deployment of Blue Water Guards, have helped recover several forest reserves and improve the quality of water bodies affected by illegal mining.
He revealed that nine forest reserves previously taken over by illegal miners have now been restored and secured.
“Today, none of the nine forest reserves is now invaded as they were invaded before,” he stated.
Touching on the condition of Ghana’s rivers, the Deputy Minister said water tests conducted in areas monitored by the Blue Water Guards indicate reduced turbidity levels, suggesting an improvement in water quality.
He credited the progress to the continued presence of security personnel tasked with protecting rivers and other vulnerable areas from illegal mining activities.
Mr Sulemana also disclosed that the government is pursuing measures to regulate responsible small-scale mining by identifying, training and certifying miners who operate legally outside forest reserves and water bodies.
“We are regularising and training those who are not on water bodies and are not in our forests. Those operating on dry lands are being regularised, certified and made responsible in the work they do,” he explained.
However, the Deputy Minister cautioned that more work remains to be done in completely eliminating illegal mining, stressing that the government’s efforts will continue.
He expressed hope that by the following year, authorities would be able to provide clearer evidence of the progress made, including detailed figures and visual records of achievements in the fight against galamsey.
