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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has suspended all reclamation exercises being carried out by government in his bid to fight illegal mining and protect the country's forest reserves.

The action by the President is to help put to rest alleged galamsey activities allegedly being carried out by some government officials in the name of reclamation exercise.

Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Secretary to the Inter-ministerial Committee on Environment and Mines, Mr. Charles Onua Wontor Bissue explained that the President is committed to fighting illegal mining popularly known as galamsey and also restore the forest reserve to its natural state.

"President has met with the committee and hopefully by next week we will officially come out to disclose our fight against galamsey so far," he said.

A comprehensive road map to help resolve this illegal mining which has also been approved by the President will soon be released by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Prof. Frimpong Boateng.

Following the widespread devastation of water resources and forest reserves as a result of the activities of illegal mining in the country, the government, in January 2017, placed a ban on small scale mining for a period of six months.

The ban was however extended in October 2017, for another three months, which ended in January 2018.

In March, 2018, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, again extended the ban, with an explanation that the targets had not been met.

But continuous extension of the ban has angered the Small–scale Miners Association of Ghana, who have accused the government of deliberately setting out to destroy their businesses.

President Akufo-Addo assured that government will soon put out a statement setting out a comprehensive roadmap, including the lifting of the ban on small-scale mining.

This he said is to deal with, on a permanent basis, the grave threat of galamsey to the present and future health of Ghana.

The comprehensive roadmap, according to the President, will involve the reclaiming and re-afforestation of mined-out areas; the restoration of impacted water bodies; and strict supervision of the processes of awarding mining licenses and associated permits.

Additionally, the road map will incorporate the establishment of a mercury pollution abatement project; the implementation of alternative livelihood projects; systematic control of the engagement of excavators and changfans in mining areas; and continued formalisation and regulation of the small-scale mining sector.