Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has vowed to criminalize all new mining activities in forest reserves if approved by parliament.
The minister-designate says if approved, his utmost priority is a commitment to safeguard Ghana‘s forest reserves as part of efforts to preserve the fast deteriorating environment mostly caused by mining in forest reserves.
Kofi Armah Buah says he will take concrete steps to lead the amendment of Legislative Instrument (L.I.)2462 which currently legalizes mining in forest reserves.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting on Monday, January 27, 2025, the minister-designate who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle reiterated that, “we have said that there will be no new mining activities in forest reserves, and the intention is to make sure that L.I. 2462 is amended to ensure that the provision allowing for mining in reserves is not in place.”
To solidify his commitment, he emphasized that his first activity as a minister will be to ensure that no new activities of mining take place in forest zones.
“If you give me the chance, my first activity will be to ensure that there will be no new mining activities in forest reserves,” he vowed.
Environmentalists, Civil Society Groups (CSO), and other professional bodies have consistently raised concerns over the mining activities permitted in the country’s forest reserves.
Aside from the mass destruction of the vegetation cover, the country’s water bodies are under threat hence a mass campaign for the halting of all forms of mining in forest zones.
By placing a firm ban on new mining activities in the forest zones, the Minister-designate seeks to lead a charge to safeguard the country’s environment for sustainable socio-economic development.