Galamsey Fight: Mahama announces GH¢200m for reclamation of 5,000 acres
President John Dramani Mahama has announced an allocation of GH¢200 million for the reclamation of 5,000 acres of land destroyed by illegal mining, as part of efforts to restore degraded lands and protect Ghana’s environment.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Mining in Motion Summit in Accra, President Mahama said the reclamation exercise would begin in 2027, stressing the government’s commitment to addressing the environmental damage caused by illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He disclosed that illegal mining had destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land across the country, while commending the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) for its reclamation efforts. According to him, NAIMOS has already reclaimed almost 800 acres of mined-out land and planted useful crops as part of efforts to restore affected areas.
President Mahama also revealed that the government had cleared all nine forest reserve areas previously declared red zones because armed illegal miners had made them inaccessible to forest guards. Ghana has 288 forest reserves, 48 of which have been penetrated by illegal miners, he said.
The President further disclosed that more than 8,200 items used in illegal mining had been confiscated, including 135 excavators, while nearly 200 firearms had been retrieved from individuals involved in the activity.
He added that GH¢200 million had also been allocated in the 2027 Budget to support the activities of NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards.
President Mahama said the government was determined to combine enforcement with land restoration and more responsible mining practices.
He also highlighted the training of 11 cooperatives in improved mining methods and the GoldBod’s support for small-scale miners adopting technologies designed to reduce environmental destruction.
He urged stakeholders to support efforts to protect Ghana’s rivers, forests and farmlands, emphasising that mineral development must not come at the expense of people’s livelihoods or the environment.
The reclamation initiative forms part of the government’s broader response to illegal mining, which has caused extensive environmental degradation and raised concerns about the pollution of water bodies and the destruction of forest reserves.
Clarify the GH¢200m allocations
Remove repeated reclamation details
Resolve the summit timing
