In ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities and protect Ghana’s forest reserves and water bodies, the government has achieved another significant milestone with the successful reclamation of the Asenayo Forest Reserve.
This feat has once again been accomplished through coordinated operations led by the Forestry Commission and security agencies, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
It marks the eighth out of nine high-priority “red-zoned” reserves restored from armed illegal miners, reinforcing the state’s zero-tolerance stance on galamsey.
The announcement was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, during a recent inter-agency retreat organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. He hailed the achievement as a testament to the effectiveness of interagency collaboration.
The Asenayo reserve, previously overrun by destructive mining operations, has now been fully secured and placed under state protection.
This development underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting Ghana’s vital forest resources and builds on earlier successes under Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who confirmed the recovery of seven other reserves through joint military-police-Forestry Commission task force operations.
The systematic reclamation strategy—combining intelligence-led enforcement, community engagement, and ecological restoration—has become a model for sustainable natural resource governance.
With only one reserve remaining under illegal occupation, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to total recovery, stating, “No forest land will be ceded to criminals.”
“We are mobilising all resources to reclaim the final target and ensure lasting protection for these critical ecosystems,” the Ministry noted.