Accra:President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that illegal mining activities have impacted 48 of Ghana's 288 forest reserves. The affected areas are now being prepared for reclamation.
According to Ghana Web, President Mahama spoke at the Mining in Motion conference in Accra, revealing that nine of the affected reserves had been classified as red zones due to the presence of heavily armed illegal miners, which posed significant challenges to enforcement efforts. These miners had prevented forest guards from entering the reserves.
The President noted that the illegal activities had penetrated 48 forest reserves, with nine zones deemed inaccessible due to the danger posed by armed miners. However, he announced that all nine red zones have now been cleared of illegal miners, allowing for reclamation efforts to commence.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to the individuals and institutions involved in the fight against illegal mining, acknowledging their contributions to regaining control of the forest reserves. His statements underscore the extent of illegal mining's encroachment on Ghana's natural resources and the ongoing efforts to restore the affected areas.