Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the country’s forests from the impacts of illegal mining, announcing plans to permanently outlaw all mining activities within forest reserves.
During a national address on May 7 marking the first 120 days of his governance mandate, President Mahama outlined a five-point strategy designed to overhaul the small-scale mining sector. The initiative involves comprehensive legal reforms, stronger law enforcement, community engagement, and large-scale land restoration efforts.
He disclosed that significant progress had already been made, with illegal miners removed from seven out of nine affected forest reserves and reclamation work underway. These efforts, he said, are part of a broader mission to restore Ghana’s ecosystems and combat environmental degradation.
Mahama highlighted the introduction of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 in March, which formally revoked the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves. He announced further plans to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2003 (Act 703), to enshrine a total and permanent ban on mining in these protected areas.
“Our goal is to put in place a strong legal foundation that offers enduring protection for Ghana’s forests,” he declared.
In addition to enforcement, Mahama noted the launch of reforestation campaigns such as the Tree for Life and Blue Water initiatives. The Tree for Life project, launched on March 21, aims to plant more than 20 million seedlings annually. As part of this, the “One Child, One Pet Tree” policy seeks to instill environmental responsibility in young Ghanaians.
The President said his government is determined to reverse the harmful legacy of illegal mining through the alignment of policy, enforcement, and public participation. He expressed confidence that these efforts would yield cleaner rivers, restored forests, and more accountable governance across the sector.
