In a bold move to halt the environmental terrorism, the government has declared forest reserves and water bodies as security zones, marking a critical shift in its fight against galamsey.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Tuesday, Elikem Kotoko, Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission stressed that no culprit will be allowed to hide behind the names of “big men” to escape accountability this time.
“No obstructionists should come to you and say there’s an order from above or a big man has intervened,” he declared, adding that: “president Mahama has given clear orders, the presidency must not be used to shield lawbreakers. The biggest man in this country is the President, and he says this menace must stop.”
He explained that by designating forests and rivers as security zones, unauthorized access is now prohibited, just as would apply in military installations. Anyone found in these areas without proper clearance will face severe consequences.
According to him, the security services have now been given full authority to act decisively, including dismantling any illegal infrastructure discovered on site.
“This means you can’t just walk into a forest or along a river body anymore without justification. The era of impunity is over,” Kotoko noted, adding that this strategic designation is not the same as a state of emergency, but constitutes a key component of that framework.
This drastic policy intervention comes after years of environmental degradation. Under the previous administration, 44 forest reserves were reported to have been breached, with nine completely overtaken by armed galamsey gangs. Kotoko revealed that these zones had essentially been lost to the state, with criminal syndicates operating with impunity, often in alleged collusion with politically connected individuals.
“In the past, there was a ban on small-scale mining, yet more mining licenses were issued during the same period,” he said, adding that: “It didn’t make sense, and the public saw through the deception. Even when arrests were made, there were no prosecutions, it was a charade.”
According to Kotoko, President Mahama’s government has taken a systematic and no-nonsense approach to reverse the damage:
- Moratorium on new mining licenses
- Recovery and reclassification of the previously “red-zoned” forests, returning them to state control
- Repeal of LI 2462, the legislative instrument that controversially allowed mining in forest reserves
- Establishment of NAIMOS (National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat)
- Deployment of Blue Water Guards and the Responsible Corporate Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCMSDP)
Kotoko confirmed that recent crackdowns have led to major arrests, including the capture of armed gangs in forest enclaves like Amuyafotu. These individuals have been transported to Accra, and Kotoko appealed to the Attorney General to expedite their prosecution as a deterrent.
Kotoko emphasized that chiefs and traditional authorities must play their part, noting that illegal mining operations often flourish with the silent approval or active involvement of local leaders. “Some of the galamseyers are even sponsoring the enstoolment of chiefs to protect their interests,” he warned.
