Authorities have arrested 258 suspects in a six-month crackdown on illegal mining activities in the country’s forest reserves, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has said.

The arrests form part of intensified government efforts to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which authorities say has contributed to widespread environmental degradation, including the destruction of forests and pollution of water bodies.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday (15 July) Armah-Kofi Buah said the enforcement operations were carried out by the ministry in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders.

“Just in the last six months, we arrested 258 suspects, demobilised six excavators, 1,225 pumping machines were seized, we demobilised 765 Changfan machines,” he said.

The minister added that authorities also destroyed 35 tricycles, seized 212 motorbikes and 40 gold detectors, while 430 structures linked to illegal mining activities were demolished within forest reserves.

The government has faced growing pressure to address illegal mining, which has affected several forest areas and threatened Ghana’s natural resources.

Armah-Kofi Buah said the latest operations had improved security in forest reserves, with previously identified illegal mining hotspots no longer posing major threats.

“I’m happy to say that today I’m not here to tell you about red zones, because we have not had any red zone,” he said, adding that the government, with support from the Forestry Commission, had regained control of the country’s forests.

Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, has struggled for years to contain illegal mining, with authorities frequently deploying security forces and conducting operations to remove miners and equipment from protected areas.

Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that illegal mining continues to endanger rivers, farmlands and forest ecosystems despite ongoing government interventions.