Galamsey Battle: Only 40 Out of 800 Illegal Miners Prosecuted – Kofi-Buah
Despite hundreds of arrests, prosecution efforts remain weak, with illegal miners taking over forest reserves and destroying thousands of hectares of land.
- Only 40 out of over 800 illegal miners have faced prosecution
- 44 out of 288 forest reserves are under severe threat, with over 5,000 hectares destroyed
- Armed illegal miners have taken over nine forest reserves
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that only 40 out of over 800 illegal miners have been prosecuted, calling the prosecution rate alarmingly low.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, February 19, Mr. Kofi-Buah stated, “In the last few years, the numbers for prosecution for illegal mining are not very encouraging. Out of over 800, the people who have been prosecuted were less than 40. So we need to look at that area as well.”
He further disclosed that 44 out of the country’s 288 forest reserves are under severe threat from illegal mining, leading to the destruction of over 5,000 hectares of land.
Disturbingly, nine of these forest reserves are now beyond the control of the Forestry Commission, as armed illegal miners have taken over. Forestry officials, he noted, are unable to combat them due to a lack of adequate weaponry.
