Ghana loses 8,900 hectares of forest reserves to illegal mining

Ghana has lost about 8,900 hectares of its forest reserves to illegal mining, according to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. In efforts to combat the destruction of the country's forest and water resources, the government has intensified operations against illegal mining, which have resulted in the arrest of 258 individuals and the seizure of various mining equipment.

As of July 2026, 9 out of Ghana's 288 forest reserves had been severely affected by illegal mining, with the destroyed area equivalent to approximately 12,500 football fields. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, acknowledged that arresting illegal miners is only part of the solution, as prosecution remains a significant challenge.

To address this, the Ministry is collaborating with the Attorney-General’s Department to improve the prosecution process. Additionally, more than 4,000 excavators are currently held at Ghana's ports awaiting compliance with a new documentation and clearance regime, and the government is considering reforms to the mining licensing system.

These reforms would reduce the maximum initial duration of large-scale mining leases from 30 years to 20 years and introduce stricter requirements for those holding exploration and prospecting licences. The government is also strengthening community participation in decision-making processes related to mining concessions and has recruited 2,000 Blue Water Guards to provide intelligence and support efforts to protect water bodies from illegal mining.

Despite some disciplinary challenges within the programme, the Ministry believes that the initiative has produced useful results overall.