Ghana's intensified fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, has reached a major milestone.

All nine forest reserves previously under the control of armed illegal miners have now been fully reclaimed, according to Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

Delivering a comprehensive update in Accra, the minister disclosed that these areas-once labeled high-risk "red zones" due to entrenched galamsey operations-are no longer under illegal occupation. "Over 5,500 hectares of forest land, equivalent to 7,500 football fields, were degraded.

I'm pleased to report that, working with law enforcement, the Forestry Commission has successfully repossessed all nine red-zoned forest reserves," the Minister announced.