Mahama: 135 excavators, nearly 200 firearms seized in galamsey fight

President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that security and enforcement operations against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, have resulted in the seizure of 135 excavators and nearly 200 firearms.

He said authorities had also confiscated more than 8,200 items, including changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining activities, as the government intensifies efforts to protect Ghana’s forests and reclaim degraded lands.

Speaking at the Mining in Motion Conference on Monday, October 19, 2026, President Mahama said the operations had recorded progress, particularly in removing illegal miners from forest reserves previously classified as red zones because of the security threats posed by armed operators.

“We have achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining. We have confiscated more than 8,200 items. This includes changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining,” he said.

“We’ve confiscated 135 excavators that were being used in illegal mining, and we have retrieved almost 200 firearms that the people involved in illegal mining had,” he added.

President Mahama disclosed that illegal miners had encroached on 48 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, with some areas designated as red zones because forest guards could not safely enter them.

He said the government had successfully cleared nine of these red zones of illegal mining activities and was preparing the affected forest reserves for reclamation.

“I’m happy to note that of those nine red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners and are currently preparing those forest reserves for reclamation,” he said.

The President estimated that illegal mining had destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land nationwide, stressing that reclamation efforts were being pursued to restore degraded areas.

As part of efforts to reverse the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, President Mahama disclosed that GH¢200 million had been allocated to reclaim 5,000 acres of degraded land.

He said the reclamation exercise was expected to begin in 2027 and commended the Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources and Finance for supporting the initiative.

The President also praised mining company Newmont for its reclamation work on mined-out land, where useful crops had been planted as part of efforts to restore affected areas.

He further commended the Ghana Gold Board for awarding the Ghana Armed Forces a contract to reclaim 253 acres of land damaged by illegal mining in the Tano Nimri Forest.

“That work is ongoing,” he said.

President Mahama also outlined measures to monitor excavators and prevent their diversion into illegal mining operations.

He said 6,060 excavators had been registered and detained at the ports, while 2,059 excavators had been fitted with tracking devices.

According to him, the tracking technology would enable authorities to identify where the machines were being operated, strengthening surveillance, monitoring and enforcement against illegal mining.

The measures form part of the government's broader efforts to curb galamsey, protect forest reserves and restore land damaged by mining activities.

President Mahama's remarks underscore the government's focus on combining enforcement against illegal mining with the rehabilitation of affected forest reserves and degraded land.