The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that the government will soon declare all forest reserves and water bodies in the country as national security zones as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

Speaking on GTV on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Mr. Buah said the move is aimed at safeguarding Ghana’s critical natural resources and ensuring lasting protection.

“The President has made it very clear that we are moving all the water bodies and the forest reserves into national security zones, which means they will become no-go areas. We are now preparing to deploy permanent military to these areas,” he stated.

The minister explained that the deployment of a permanent security presence in these zones will serve as a deterrent to illegal miners whose activities continue to threaten water sources and forests across the country.

The announcement comes at a time when the government is under increasing pressure from civil society groups, traditional leaders, and citizens to take decisive action against the galamsey menace, which has devastated water bodies and degraded farmlands.