GAF launches anti-galamsey operations across three commands

Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has announced the launch of a renewed nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, led by the Ghana Armed Forces.

The targeted operations, which began this month, are aimed at curbing galamsey activities, especially in forest reserves and around water bodies.

Described by the Minister as “surgical,” the operations are being conducted simultaneously under the Northern, Central, and Southern military commands, each focusing on regions that have become notorious for illegal mining.

In the Northern Command, military efforts are concentrated in the Bole area and along the Black Volta Basin, where illegal mining activities have intensified in recent times.

The Central Command is tackling operations within the Nkawie and Mankranso Forest Reserves, while the Southern Command is focusing on areas like Jerusalem and the Subri Forest Reserve — both of which have suffered significant environmental damage due to galamsey.

Dr. Boamah reported that the initial phase of the operations has already yielded results, with several excavators and mining equipment seized from illegal operators. Troops have also dismantled makeshift camps and shelters that had been established deep within forest reserves.

“These operations underscore the government’s commitment to halting illegal mining and restoring degraded lands,” Dr. Boamah stated.

He assured the public that the Armed Forces would maintain a strong and sustained presence in these vulnerable zones to prevent further environmental degradation and secure the country's natural resources for future generations.