LANDS MINISTER ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES The Minister for Lands, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, has addressed Parliament on the pressing issue of illegal mi - SATA RADIO

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LANDS MINISTER ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES The Minister for Lands, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, has addressed Parliament on the pressing issue of illegal mi

LANDS MINISTER ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES The Minister for Lands, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, has addressed Parliament on the pressing issue of illegal mining activities. Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Minister Buah expressed deep concern that out of 288 forest reserves, 44 have been destroyed by illegal miners. He revealed that approximately 5,000 hectares of forestland have been degraded, and nine forest reserves have been classified as "red zones" due to the severity of the destruction. According to Minister Buah, illegal miners have deployed armed thugs to intimidate and prevent forest guards from carrying out their official duties. He noted that eight of the red zone forest reserves are currently under the control of armed thugs, while efforts are underway to reclaim the remaining reserve. The Minister commended the collaborative efforts between the Ministry, the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Army, and the Ghana Police Service, which have led to th

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Published on 06/20/2025 19:15

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LANDS MINISTER ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES

The Minister for Lands, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, has addressed Parliament on the pressing issue of illegal mining activities.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Minister Buah expressed deep concern that out of 288 forest reserves, 44 have been destroyed by illegal miners.

He revealed that approximately 5,000 hectares of forestland have been degraded, and nine forest reserves have been classified as "red zones" due to the severity of the destruction.

According to Minister Buah, illegal miners have deployed armed thugs to intimidate and prevent forest guards from carrying out their official duties. He noted that eight of the red zone forest reserves are currently under the control of armed thugs, while efforts are underway to reclaim the remaining reserve. The Minister commended the collaborative efforts between the Ministry, the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Army, and the Ghana Police Service, which have led to the successful recovery of some of these reserves.

Minister Buah further disclosed that the Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Defence, the Forestry Commission, and the Military to develop a system that provides backup support in hotspot areas. This system will enable rapid response teams from the Forestry Commission to effectively enforce the law, especially in situations where they require additional support.

The Minister concluded by stating that the Ministry is collaborating with the Forestry Commission and other agencies to source support for key logistics. These logistics will enhance the mobility of officers, improve surveillance and monitoring, and facilitate the detection and prosecution of offenders.

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