ACCRA, Dec 30 (The African Portal) – Ghana’s Forestry Commission said law enforcement operations targeting illegal mining have led to the seizure of hundreds of machines and vehicles, as authorities step up efforts to curb environmental damage caused by unregulated gold extraction.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Dec. 30, the commission said its operations resulted in the confiscation of 199 excavators, four bulldozers and 227 water pumping machines, along with 21 vehicles, 69 motorbikes, 13 tricycles, 28 gold detector machines and 13 heavy-duty generators.
Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, has for years posed a major challenge for Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer. The activity has been blamed for widespread deforestation, the pollution of rivers and water bodies, and the destruction of farmland, prompting repeated crackdowns by successive governments.
Authorities have intensified enforcement in forest reserves and protected areas, where the Forestry Commission has primary oversight, as part of broader efforts to safeguard water resources and biodiversity.
The commission did not disclose where the latest seizures were made or whether arrests were carried out, but said the operations form part of ongoing measures to deter illegal mining and protect Ghana’s natural resources.
