The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has disclosed that 425 excavators have been seized and 1,345 suspects arrested nationwide in connection with illegal mining activities.
The Minister made the disclosure when he took his turn on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Government Accountability Series.
He noted that his ministry has worked in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the National Security Secretariat.
The Minister noted that the suspects are currently standing trial, and the Attorney-General will give updates on these prosecutions when he takes his turn next week.
“I will specifically give you some numbers and to show you the specifics and this is related to just the forestry commission and forest reserves. 177 excavators have been seized under the forestry commission, 4 bulldozers, 12 vehicles, 43 motorcycles and 155 pumping machines, 184 changfans, 15 detector machines and 10 heavy duty generators have all been seized and 286 persons have all been arrested. These are under the forestry commission. They make up the total numbers I gave earlier.”
To coordinate the efforts of the police, military, and other security agencies and to bring proper coordination, the ministry, working closely with the Ministry of Interior, Defence, National Security, and the Attorney General, has established the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NEMOS) as the Operational Nerve Centre for Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining and its associated environmental degradation, particularly in water bodies and forest reserves.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
