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Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, was moved to tears while addressing the press about the devastating environmental damage caused by illegal mining (galamsey) in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.
Describing the destruction as a “devastation of biblical proportions,” the Minister painted a grim picture of ruined greenery, polluted streams, and silenced wildlife. His emotional moment followed a joint operation by the Ghana Police and Forestry Commission on April 17 that dismantled six illegal mining sites allegedly linked to Akonta Mining Company Ltd.
The operation led to the arrest of 51 suspects and the seizure of 30 excavators and various mining tools. The Ministry has since revoked Akonta Mining’s lease and launched investigations into the possible complicity of Forestry Commission and security officials.
Mr. Buah reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal mining, vowing to restore Ghana’s degraded forests and prosecute offenders.
