The government will soon declare all rivers and forests in Ghana as security zones as part of a renewed effort to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the measure, warning that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining within these protected areas will do so “at their own risk.”

“We are moving another step further, and that step says we are going to declare all the water bodies and our forests security zones. And you stay there and engage in illegal mining activity at your own risk. That is the step," he said on the GTV Breakfast Show.

"When the President said that we are going to use all the steps, that’s what he meant. And so I’m very confident. How can people leave red zones for you when you come and clear within nine months? And those people who have caused the damage have the audacity to be talking?” he said.

Touching on arrests made so far, the Minister revealed that cases are at various stages of prosecution, with the Attorney General personally handling the matter.

He stressed that the law will be applied without fear or favour.

“I think that the Attorney General is on top of this matter, and anybody engaged in illegal mining, we don’t care who you are or how politically connected, we will arrest and prosecute you,” he added.

The move to designate rivers and forests as security zones is expected to empower state security agencies to take tougher action against illegal mining operations, which continue to cause widespread destruction to water bodies and forest reserves across the country.