Myjoyonline.com on July 28, 2025 reported that over 15 fully armed men, believed to be National Security operatives, surrounded and effectively shut down the offices of the Forestry Commission in the Bekwai District of the Ashanti Region.
The unexpected and forceful presence disrupted official duties for the day, leaving staff and onlookers in a state of shock and confusion. According to bewildered officials on the scene, the National Security operatives arrived unannounced and informed them they were acting “by orders from above” to close the offices and take possession of the keys.
The story continued that the extraordinary intervention comes against a backdrop of heightened risks and threats faced by Forestry Commission officials in recent months. Some staff members who spoke to the media revealed that they have been under pressure and even direct threats for their active role in arresting illegal miners within the vital Oda River Forest Reserve.
A few hours after the publication of the story, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, issued the following statement: Earlier today, I received reports on the brazen and unlawful closure of the Bekwai District Office of the Forestry Commission by persons masquerading as National Security operatives in the Ashanti Region.
As Sector Minister, I am deeply appalled by this incident and strongly condemn the invasion in no uncertain terms. Indeed, such acts of lawlessness undermine the rule of law, threaten public peace and tarnish the integrity of institutions like the National Security and must not be allowed to fester.
On that note, I call on all relevant law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend and prosecute all those involved in the said illegality. This will serve as a strong deterrent to other unscrupulous persons who may harbour similar intentions.
It is an undeniable fact that one of the reasons Ghanaians voted massively against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections was the failure of the then ruling party to deal with the issues surrounding illegal mining or galamsey. As if it was coordinated, there were massive attacks on our forests and water bodies in the name of digging for gold.
Despite several protests from environmentalists, the government could not deal with the situation. The development forced the Ghana Water Company to shut down some of its treatment plants at a point in time. Though several taskforces were set up to deal with the menace, it could still not solve the problem because of allegations, at the time that some top government officials were behind the illegal mining operations.
Ghanaians, therefore, had no option than to vote out NPP from power. They gave the mantle to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because it was the only option available. But despite the accusations upon accusations that members of NDC themselves made against their opponents – NPP – members of the former appear to have taken over the illegal mining business.
As it happened during the past regime, the development is frustrating those who have the genuine intention to fight galamsey and protect our environment. One of such people is Armah Buah.
As the sector minister, he obviously has the desire to end the destruction being caused to the environment, but some of his people are frustrating him and the above quoted statement testifies to this fact.
How can supposed National Security operatives, armed to the teeth, storm district Forestry Commission office that is seriously fighting against illegal mining to shut it down, without the knowledge of the sector minister? As it happened during NPP’s time where military men were deployed to protect illegal miners in the forest reserves, it appears people connected to top echelons of power are using some of the security agencies to protect their illegal mining business.
It is upon the basis of this that The Chronicle is adding its voice to that of Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, calling on all relevant law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend and prosecute all those involved in the story we had earlier narrated. As the minister himself noted, “this will serve as a strong deterrent to other unscrupulous persons who may harbour similar intentions.”
The Chronicle is similarly asking President Mahama to put his feet down in the fight against galamsey, otherwise some of his own people will destroy his government.
Ghana is the only country we have but if maximum measures are not put in place to fight against galamsey, there will no Ghana for us tomorrow.
This is the reason why Mr President must crack the whip on anyone found to be using the security agencies as a weapon to protect his or her illegal mining business.
We shall surely return to this subject.
The post Editorial: Fight Against Galamsey: Is Armah Kofi Buah Not Being Frustrated? appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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