Lands Minister Reports Loss of 8,900 Hectares to Illegal Mining as Tano North Chiefs Petition President Mahama

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that Ghana has lost approximately 8,900 hectares of forest reserves to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. This staggering loss, equivalent to about 12,500 football fields, was disclosed during a policy dialogue with the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education in Accra. The disclosure comes as the government acknowledges significant hurdles in its attempts to curb the menace, particularly regarding the successful prosecution of offenders who continue to exploit the nation's natural resources.

The environmental crisis has sparked a direct appeal from traditional authorities in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region. The chiefs have formally petitioned President John Mahama to take immediate action against rampant galamsey operations that have devastated local forests and severely polluted the Tano River. The traditional leaders expressed deep disappointment over the ineffective response from state agencies, detailing instances where local residents and chiefs apprehended illegal miners only for the police to release them shortly after.

Member of Parliament Dr. Gideon Boako has joined the chiefs in their call for accountability, praising their efforts to protect the community's ecological heritage. He emphasized the need for a united front against not only the miners on the ground but also the financial backers who sustain these illegal operations. As the scale of forest loss continues to rise, the petition to President Mahama highlights an urgent need for a more robust enforcement strategy that ensures perpetrators face the full rigors of the law to prevent further destruction of Ghana's water sources and forest reserves.