Mahama says illegal miners cleared from nine forest reserve ‘red zones’
The president says armed miners had kept forest guards out of the nine reserves. They were among 48 reserves he identified as affected by illegal mining.
President John Dramani Mahama says illegal miners have been removed from nine forest reserves previously considered too dangerous for forest guards to enter, allowing preparations for reclamation to begin.
Speaking at the Mining in Motion conference in Accra on Monday, October 19, he said the reserves had been designated “red zones” because the miners occupying them were fully armed.
The nine were among 48 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves that he said had been penetrated by illegal miners.
“We have 288 forest reserves, and of these forest reserves, 48 of them had been penetrated by illegal miners,” Mr Mahama said.
“And of the 48, nine were declared red zones, which means the forest guards could not enter those reserves because the illegal miners were fully armed.”
The president said all nine red zones had now been cleared.
“I am happy to note that of those nine red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners, and are currently preparing those forest reserves for reclamation,” he said.
He described the nine reserves as being prepared for reclamation, rather than saying that restoration had been completed.
The president commended those involved in the operations to recover the reserves.