Gov’t Records Progress in Anti-Galamsey Fight, Says Deputy Lands Minister

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Dr. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, says government has made “significant strides” in the fight against illegal mining in the last few months, despite the challenges.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service on Thursday, August 6, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Ghana Air Force helicopter tragedy, the Bole-Bamboi MP said key interventions are yielding results.

“ The fight against galamsey hasn’t been an easy one. But we have made significant strides in the last few months,” Dr. Sulemana stated.

He said through the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, NAIMOS, and the deployment of Blue Water Guards, government has improved the quality of water bodies and reclaimed forest reserves that were invaded prior to the current administration taking office.

According to him, about nine forest reserves that were previously under invasion have now been reclaimed. “Today none of the nine forest reserves is now invaded as they were invaded before,” he noted.

On water bodies, the Deputy Minister said recent tests conducted in areas where Blue Water Guards are stationed show improving turbidity levels. He attributed the progress to the permanent deployment of military personnel to protect rivers and other water sources.

Dr. Sulemana added that government is also focusing on regularizing small-scale mining on dry lands. “We are regularizing and training those who are not on water bodies and they are not in our forests. Those who are doing that on dry lands, we are regularizing them, certifying them and making them responsible in the work that they do,” he explained.

He, however, acknowledged that more work remains to be done. The Deputy Minister said the ministry is targeting next year to present Ghanaians with concrete data, visuals and reports on the progress made so far.

“We still have a long way to go in this course. By next year, by this time, we should be able to organize a press conference and tell Ghanaians how far we have come. At that point we should be giving figures, we should be giving visuals,” he said.

The memorial service was held to honor the eight persons who died in the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District.