President John Dramani Mahama says soldiers will remain stationed in all nine forest reserves that were once classified as galamsey “red zones” and have now been cleared of illegal miners, to make sure the miners do not return.
The President made the statement when chiefs from the Western North Region paid him a courtesy call, according to reports published on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
“We have now cleared all nine of those red zones,” President Mahama said, adding that “there are no galamsey operators in those forest reserves” and that soldiers have been stationed there “to ensure that the illegal miners do not return.”
The nine reserves were designated red zones because of the scale of destruction and the presence of heavily armed illegal miners.
Why soldiers will stay in the cleared forest reserves
President Mahama explained that earlier efforts to reclaim the reserves failed because illegal miners went back as soon as soldiers withdrew and forest guards were left to protect the areas alone.
“Whenever forest guards went there, they were fired upon, and some lost their lives,” he said.
Keeping soldiers on the ground is meant to stop that cycle of clearing and re-invasion from repeating.
Mahama asks chiefs to back NAIMOS galamsey operations
The President urged the Western North chiefs to support the work of the National Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS).
He pointed to areas where young people, and in some cases traditional authorities, have resisted NAIMOS operations, and said chiefs are better placed to deal with the local causes of illegal mining because they live among the people.
The fight against galamsey has remained a major political issue, with the opposition recently arguing that the problem has worsened — a claim GhanaTrends reported when Bawumia listed seven ‘broken promises’ at the NPP conference.
Concern over deaths during anti-galamsey enforcement
President Mahama also expressed concern about incidents in which soldiers discharged firearms during enforcement operations, resulting in deaths.
No figures on those incidents were given in the reports.
GoldBod and military to reclaim degraded forest land
The President said the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has started engaging the military in a programme to reclaim forest areas destroyed by illegal mining and replant them with economic trees.
Under the plan, bulldozers will level degraded land, while the Forestry Commission works with the military on reclamation and reforestation.
GH¢400 million for more Blue Water Guards in 2027 Budget
On rivers and other water bodies, President Mahama said the Finance Minister has provided GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to recruit additional Blue Water Guards.
The guards have been instructed to destroy changfang machines used for illegal mining on rivers, and several have already been destroyed, clearing many major river channels.
However, the President acknowledged that illegal mining in tributaries continues to send mud and silt into the main rivers.
Galamsey fight in figures
- Forest reserves classified as red zones: 9
- Red-zone reserves now cleared: all 9
- Security in cleared reserves: soldiers to remain stationed
- 2027 Budget allocation for extra Blue Water Guards: GH¢400 million
- Reclamation partners: GoldBod, the military and the Forestry Commission
What it means for forest communities and water users
For communities around the affected reserves, a continued military presence signals that government intends to hold the ground it has regained rather than hand it back to illegal miners.
For towns that rely on rivers for drinking water and farming, more Blue Water Guards and the destruction of changfang machines could mean cleaner river channels, though silt from tributaries remains a problem.
President Mahama also said the response must go beyond enforcement to address the economic conditions that push young people into galamsey.
What happens next
Soldiers are to remain in the nine cleared reserves, while GoldBod, the military and the Forestry Commission begin levelling and replanting degraded land.
Recruitment of additional Blue Water Guards is expected to be funded under the GH¢400 million allocation in the 2027 Budget, and government is counting on chiefs to help reduce local resistance to NAIMOS operations.
Mahama Says Soldiers Will Stay in All 9 Cleared ‘Red Zone’ Forest Reserves to Stop Galamsey Return
Key details at a glance
- President Mahama says all nine galamsey “red zone” forest reserves have been cleared.
- Soldiers will stay stationed in the reserves to prevent illegal miners from returning.
- Past clearances failed after soldiers withdrew and forest guards came under gunfire.
- Western North chiefs were urged to support NAIMOS operations.
- GoldBod and the military will reclaim and replant destroyed forest land with the Forestry Commission.
- GH¢400 million is provided in the 2027 Budget to recruit more Blue Water Guards.
- The President expressed concern over deaths linked to soldiers firing during operations.
FAQs
How many forest reserves has Ghana cleared of galamsey?
President Mahama says all nine forest reserves that were classified as galamsey red zones have been cleared, and there are currently no illegal miners operating in them.
Why are soldiers staying in Ghana’s forest reserves?
Soldiers are staying to stop illegal miners from returning. Previous clearances failed after the military withdrew and forest guards were attacked, with some losing their lives.
How much is in the 2027 Budget for Blue Water Guards?
According to President Mahama, the Finance Minister has provided GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to recruit additional Blue Water Guards to patrol water bodies.
President Mahama’s announcement marks a shift from one-off raids to holding cleared forest reserves with a permanent military presence, backed by land reclamation, more Blue Water Guards and an appeal to chiefs to help tackle the local roots of galamsey.
