The Lands and Natural Resources Minister-designate, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has pledged to end mining in Ghana’s forest reserves if confirmed in his role. Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 27, 2025, Mr. Kofi-Buah emphasized that no new mining licenses would be issued for operations in forest reserves under his leadership.
Addressing the alarming degradation of forest reserves, Mr. Kofi-Buah asserted that immediate action was necessary to restore the country’s biodiversity.
He outlined three key initiatives proposed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to combat illegal mining: the Blue Water Initiative, the Tree for Life Initiative, and the Restore Ghana program.
“These measures will ensure we put an end to illegal mining in our forest reserves and work to rebuild biodiversity and the ecological health of our forests,” he stated. “We are committed to halting the issuance of any new mining licenses for forest reserves to prevent further destruction.”
Mr. Kofi-Buah also blamed political interference for the devastation of Ghana’s forests. “The degradation of our forests is not the fault of reputable mining companies
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Gumedzo Isaac Acheampong
