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Lydia Opoku, Acting Executive Director of the Forest Services Division under the Forestry Commission, has appealed for stronger protection and support for Forest Guards confronting illegal mining activities, locally referred to as galamsey.
During a visit to several illegal mining sites in Kumasi on Thursday, May 8, she addressed the press, highlighting the dangerous conditions under which forest officers operate. According to her, many illegal miners are shielded by armed groups equipped with advanced weapons, making it difficult for the Commission’s personnel to act safely and effectively.
“We are outmatched in terms of firepower and equipment,” Opoku stated. “That is why we are calling on chiefs and local communities to join forces with us in safeguarding the forests. Their cooperation is vital if we are to win this battle.”
She stressed that traditional leaders and residents in mining-prone areas must play a proactive role in discouraging and reporting galamsey activities, which continue to threaten Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
In line with the government’s broader campaign against illegal mining, 453 personnel under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ Blue Water Initiative have completed four weeks of intensive training at the Ghana Navy Forward Operating Base in Ezilibo, in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
These trainees will be deployed within a week to collaborate with the Ghana Navy in protecting the nation’s key rivers from the destructive practices of galamsey operators.
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