The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has shockingly offered seven Forest Reserves for mining activities in spite of claims to be protecting the nation’s vegetation.
The alleged sale to small-scale miners has raised serious concerns among the public, as revelations suggest a controversial arrangement facilitated by a new Legislative Instrument (LI) passed by Parliament.
The LI 2462, enacted in 2023, allows the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to grant permission to miners to operate within forest reserves.
Despite sharp criticisms from Civil Society Groups (CSOs) urging the immediate repeal of the legislation, reports indicate that popular reserves such as Tano Nimri, Tano Boin, Tano Anhwia, Kokosua, Apamprama, Bia Tano, and the contentious Atiwa forest have been sold to miners in the Western and Eastern Regions. Disturbingly, even before these permits were issued, both legal and illegal miners had already encroached upon these reserves, causing significant damage to the natural environment.
Multimedia’s Erastus Asare Donkor, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 2023 Journalist of the Year, shed light on these developments during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning show.
Describing instances of illegal mining activities within the forest reserves, Erastus highlighted the destruction at the Kokosua Forest Reserve, where miners, including a “known political figure,” continued illicit operations despite efforts to deter them.
Similarly, the Apamprama Forest Reserve has reportedly seen half of its area decimated by miners, with Chinese nationals among those exploiting the land.
The detrimental effects of mining are not limited to the forest reserves, as major rivers like Ankobrah, Tano, Brim, Asri, Bia, Oda, and Offin have also suffered severe damage.
The pollution caused by mining activities has disrupted the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen, with water quality reaching alarming levels that exceed international standards.
Despite President Akufo-Addo’s claimed commitment to combat illegal mining, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with reports of widespread illegal mining activities in various regions.
Erastus Asare Donkor’s investigations revealed ongoing mining operations in areas such as Wassa Amenfi, Asankragua, and Manso Amenfi, underscoring the pervasive nature of the issue.
As concerns mount over the environmental degradation and social impacts of mining activities, calls for stricter regulations and enforcement mechanisms have intensified.
The government’s decision to allow mining in forest reserves has sparked a nationwide debate, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable mining practices to protect Ghana’s natural resources for future generations.