The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that only 40 out of over 800 illegal miners arrested have been prosecuted for engaging in illegal mining, describing the low prosecution rate as inadequate.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, February 19, Mr. Kofi Buah expressed concern over the slow pace of legal action against illegal miners.

“In the last few years, the numbers for prosecution for illegal mining are not very encouraging.

Out of over 800, the people who have been prosecuted were less than 40.

So we need to look at that area as well,” he stated.

The Minister also disclosed that 44 out of the country’s 288 forest reserves are under severe threat from illegal mining, leading to the destruction of over 5,000 hectares of land.

He further noted that nine of these forest reserves have been completely taken over by armed illegal miners, making it impossible for Forestry Commission officials to reclaim them due to a lack of adequate weaponry to counter the miners.