Accra: Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, has disclosed that although the fight against illegal mining remains challenging, interventions rolled out in recent months have led to noticeable improvements in forest protection and water quality. Speaking to journalists at the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, to mark the first anniversary of the Ghana Air Force helicopter crash, he said the government was making steady progress in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to Ghana Web, the Deputy Minister highlighted significant strides made in recent months, emphasizing the role of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the deployment of Blue Water Guards in restoring several forest reserves and improving the condition of major rivers heavily polluted by illegal mining activities. Sulemana disclosed that nine forest reserves previously under the control of illegal miners had now been reclaimed, stating, "Today, none of the nine forest reserves is now invaded as they were invaded before."
On the state of the country's water bodies, the Deputy Minister reported that water samples collected from areas being monitored by the Blue Water Guards showed declining turbidity levels, indicating improving water quality. He attributed these gains to the continued deployment of military personnel to protect rivers and other water bodies from illegal mining activities.
Sulemana also mentioned efforts to formalize responsible small-scale mining by registering and training miners who operate outside forest reserves and water bodies. "We are regularizing and training those who are not on water bodies and they are not in our forests. Those who are doing that on dry lands, we are regularizing them, certifying them and making them responsible in the work that they do," he explained.
While expressing optimism about the progress made so far, the Deputy Minister admitted that the fight against galamsey was far from over. He expressed hope that by next year, the government would be able to provide more detailed updates, complete with figures and visuals, on the progress in combating illegal mining activities.