President John Dramani Mahama has announced a decisive move to revoke all mining leases granted by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for operations in forest reserves. This bold step is part of his administration’s broader strategy to protect Ghana’s natural environment and curb the devastation caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 14 Ministers of State on Thursday, January 30, Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to halting mining activities in sensitive areas. He tasked the new Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, with ensuring that Ghana’s forests and natural resources are effectively safeguarded against destructive practices. The President emphasized that immediate measures would be taken to suspend all mining operations in forest reserves, with legal actions pursued against violators.
Mahama further declared a blanket ban on the issuance of new mining leases for forest reserves, reinforcing his government’s stance on environmental protection. “It shall be the policy of this government to ban the issuance of leases for mining in all forest reserves,” he stated. “We shall also move promptly to revoke all leases issued for the same purpose under the previous government.” This move signals a firm commitment to sustainable resource management and environmental conservation.
