The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has vowed to relentless crackdown on forest destruction following the invasion of the Atiwa forest by illegal mining operators.
A number of foreign nationals have also been implicated in the perilous venture as security forces making up of National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) adopt new tactics to support the Minister’s campaign to win the war against the canker.
The Minister stormed the Atiwa Forest on Tuesday to launch a renewed offensive against illegal mining in the Atiwa Forest, declaring that the government will not surrender the country’s forests and water bodies to criminal operators destroying Ghana’s natural heritage.
The Minister made the declaration during the visit to the forest to lead efforts to drive out illegal miners and strengthen the fight against environmental destruction.
The operation culminated in the arrest of three suspects allegedly caught red-handed engaging in illegal mining activities inside the forest.
The suspects, comprised one Nigerien national and two Ghanaians, highlighting concerns about the involvement of both foreign nationals and local collaborators in the illegal exploitation of Ghana’s natural resources.
The Minister used the visit to announce the launch of “Operation Green Shield,” a renewed intervention aimed at confronting illegal mining activities and protecting the country’s forest reserves.
He stressed that his Ministry was more determined than ever to rescue Ghana from individuals and networks whose activities continue to undermine environmental protection, threaten water security and endanger the future of generations yet unborn.
Describing the devastation witnessed in the Atiwa Forest as heartbreaking, the Minister expressed deep concern about the extent of environmental destruction caused by illegal miners through a method of mining known as one leg operations.
He said the sight of the damage was a painful reminder of the urgent need for stronger enforcement and sustained action to prevent further destruction of the country’s ecological assets.
He was particularly disturbed by what he described as the “one-leg operations” of illegal miners, suggesting that the activities and methods employed by these operators had contributed to the worrying state of the forest.
The Minister’s observations reinforced the government’s determination to confront illegal mining at its operational bases rather than allow the perpetrators to continue exploiting the forest with impunity.
The Minister’s first major message was that the fight against illegal mining would not be abandoned, regardless of the difficulties encountered.
He made it clear that the government remained committed to confronting the menace and would not be intimidated or discouraged by the activities of those determined to destroy the environment for personal gain.
He further declared that the government remained unfazed and would not give up its responsibility to protect Ghana’s natural resources.
According to the Minister, the scale of the challenge demands political resolve, effective security operations and sustained cooperation among the relevant state institutions to ensure that illegal miners are removed from protected areas.
Protecting Ghana’s forests and water bodies, he emphasised, remained a national priority.
He warned that allowing illegal mining to continue unchecked would undermine the country’s environmental security and compromise the resources upon which communities, agriculture, industry and future economic development depend.
The Minister also raised concerns about the consequences of environmental destruction for future generations, warning that Ghana risked mortgaging its future if present-day exploitation continued without regard for sustainability.
He stressed that the country could not afford to sacrifice its forests, rivers and ecological systems for the immediate financial interests of a few individuals.
Another critical issue highlighted during the visit was the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining.
The arrest of a Nigerien national alongside two Ghanaian suspects brought renewed attention to the cross-border dimension of the menace and the need for law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle the networks facilitating illegal mining activities.
The Minister reiterated that his Ministry was more than determined to rescue the country from the individuals and groups responsible for the destruction of its natural resources.
He maintained that the fight was not merely about removing excavators or arresting individual operators, but about protecting the national interest, enforcing the law and preserving the environment for sustainable development.
The launch of Operation Green Shield is expected to reinforce the government’s efforts to protect forest reserves and intensify the pursuit of illegal mining operators.
The initiative sends a strong message that environmentally destructive activities within protected areas will attract decisive enforcement action, as the authorities seek to prevent further encroachment and restore the integrity of vulnerable ecosystems.
The commander of NAIMOS Col. Kwame Sam Appiah, who also addressed the operation, highlighted new operational tactics being adopted to defeat illegal miners.
His remarks underscored the importance of adapting enforcement strategies to the changing methods used by illegal operators, who often exploit difficult terrain and other operational challenges to evade security personnel.
The emphasis on new tactics points to a more responsive approach to tackling illegal mining, with operational effectiveness central to the campaign.
By strengthening the methods used to locate and confront offenders, the authorities aim to improve the impact of field operations and prevent illegal miners from returning to areas from which they have been removed.
The arrest of the three suspects at the end of the operation provided a concrete outcome of the Minister’s visit and reinforced the message that the crackdown would be backed by action on the ground.
The suspects are expected to be dealt with in accordance with the law, subject to the established investigative and judicial processes.
The Minister’s visit to the Atiwa Forest and the launch of Operation Green Shield mark a renewed declaration of intent in Ghana’s campaign against illegal mining.
With the government insisting that it will not relent, the focus now turns to sustained enforcement, accountability and the protection of the country’s forests and water bodies.
“The message from Atiwa is clear: Ghana’s natural heritage will not be surrendered to illegal miners, and the fight to protect it will continue” Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah concluded.
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