President Tightens Measures to Combat Illegal Mining in Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strict directive prohibiting all government officials from engaging in any form of mining, whether legal or illegal. He emphasized that any official interested in mining must resign from their position before pursuing such activities.
Speaking at the launch of the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality on March 21, 2025, Mahama stated, “I have directed that no government appointee at any level should engage in any form of legal or illegal mining. If you want to be a miner, leave the government and go and be a miner.” He warned that any official caught violating the directive would face immediate dismissal and legal consequences.
Crackdown on Illegal Mining and Environmental Restoration
The directive aligns with Mahama’s broader environmental agenda, which includes revoking mining leases in forest reserves and banning the issuance of new permits in these protected areas. He further instructed security and regulatory agencies to intensify the fight against illegal mining, citing recent successes in reclaiming forests previously devastated by galamsey.
Describing illegal mining as a national crisis, Mahama warned of its severe economic, environmental, and public health consequences. “Farmers are losing their farmlands, rivers are turning brown and toxic with pollution, and entire communities are being affected,” he stressed.
Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative
The Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, launched under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is a key component of Mahama’s 120-day social contract with Ghanaians. The initiative aims to restore degraded lands, particularly areas destroyed by illegal mining and deforestation.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah emphasized the urgency of the program, warning that Ghana’s forest cover is depleting rapidly, posing serious ecological risks. He called for collective efforts to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources for future generations.
Source: CNR