Logeist Taskforce Warns Illegal Miners Against Reclaiming Reclaimed Land in Ghana's Ashanti Region

In the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, a new front has opened in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The Logeist Ecoreclaim Initiative Taskforce, a collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the private Logeist Group Limited, has issued a stern warning to illegal miners attempting to re-occupy lands already reclaimed from degradation.

Launched approximately a year ago, the initiative has reclaimed over 8,000 acres of land devastated by galamsey in Amansie Central and surrounding districts. Beyond merely filling pits, the taskforce has embarked on extensive tree‑planting programmes to restore forest cover, aligning with the government’s broader environmental rehabilitation agenda. A newly inaugurated office in Kumasi coordinates these efforts across the region, serving as a hub for planning, monitoring, and community engagement.

Yet the gains are under threat. “Our work is to take back these destroyed lands and give them life again. But reclamation without protection is temporary,” warned Alhaji Majid Governor, Operations Manager of the Logeist Group. Seth Kofi Agyei, Operations Director of the Logeist Field Taskforce, warned that any attempt to destroy reclaimed lands or obstruct ongoing reclamation work would not be tolerated.

The taskforce reports mounting pressure on its field and security teams as illegal miners seek to re‑enter reclaimed sites. In response, an enforcement drive runs parallel to reclamation activities, leading to arrests and prosecutions of those caught mining illegally within or around restored areas. The taskforce invokes a zero‑tolerance stance, echoing the sentiment of related operations like NAIMOS, which have recorded dozens of arrests in other districts. Prosecutors have begun charging offenders under laws governing illegal mining and environmental degradation, signaling a tougher judicial approach.

Beyond enforcement, the taskforce calls on all stakeholders to safeguard the reclaimed lands. Politicians and traditional authorities are urged to refrain from interfering with the project, which is deliberately apolitical. Residents and community leaders are encouraged to support the fight against galamsey and remain vigilant against encroachment. The taskforce also stresses the importance of protecting water sources, noting that lasting restoration depends on community vigilance and cooperation. Educational campaigns in local schools and town halls aim to raise awareness about the long‑term benefits of reclaimed land for agriculture, biodiversity, and flood mitigation.

Such incidents underscore the need for a coordinated national response that combines reclamation, enforcement, and community engagement to break the cycle of degradation and re‑occupation, as seen in recent encroachments at the abandoned Agenda 111 hospital project in Adansi Asokwa, where illegal mining activities threaten critical public infrastructure.

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