Accra — Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, is being stepped up with the training of over 800 Forest Guards to protect the country’s forests and water bodies.
The Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the Seth Anthony Jungle Warfare Training School at Akyem Achiase, has rolled out a specialised training programme aimed at equipping personnel with the skills and endurance required to confront environmental threats.
The guards, drawn from the Eastern, Ashanti, and Western Regions, underwent intensive field training designed to prepare them for operations in forest zones where illegal mining activities are prevalent.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Commanding Officer of the training school, Lieutenant Colonel Speratus Anglaawine Baninyeni, explained that the programme was structured to build both the physical resilience and tactical capacity of participants.
He noted that the training enables personnel to live and operate in forest environments for extended periods while carrying out enforcement duties to safeguard natural resources.
The initiative forms part of broader national efforts to curb the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies caused by illegal mining activities, which continue to pose serious environmental and economic risks.
Also addressing the gathering, Ashanti Regional Forest Services Division Manager, Isaac Noble Eshun, described the training as a critical step toward strengthening environmental protection measures and ensuring the sustainable management of Ghana’s forests.
He emphasised that the fight against galamsey requires collective responsibility and urged all Ghanaians to support efforts aimed at preserving the country’s natural resources.
The Forestry Commission believes the deployment of the newly trained guards will significantly boost on-the-ground enforcement and help restore degraded forest areas across affected regions.
