President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his dedication to terminating mining operations within Ghana’s forest reserves, revealing intentions to revise the Minerals and Mining Act of 2003 (Act 703) to impose a permanent ban on such activities.
In his address regarding the achievements of his administration during the initial 120 days, President Mahama presented a detailed plan designed to reform the mining sector, which encompasses legal changes, enforcement measures, and initiatives for land restoration.
He stated, ‘In the first 120 days, we have implemented a decisive five-point strategy to reform and purify the mining sector.
This strategy includes regulatory adjustments, enhanced law enforcement through joint task forces, the apprehension and confiscation of mining equipment, collaboration with stakeholders, and the restoration of damaged lands.
Seven out of nine reserves have been restored, and illegal miners have been removed from these forest reserves,’ Mahama remarked.
He indicated that as a component of this initiative, the legislative instrument L.I. 2462 was introduced to Parliament on March 20, 2025, with the aim of amending the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations.
This amendment eliminates the president’s discretionary authority to authorize mining activities in forest reserves. Furthermore, Mahama committed to not only making regulatory changes but also to directly addressing the Minerals and Mining Act itself.
He expressed his intention to revise the Minerals and Mining Act, 2003 (Act 703) to impose a complete prohibition on mining within forest reserves, thereby ensuring a thorough, legal, and absolute ban on such activities.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy to safeguard Ghana’s natural environment and mitigate the detrimental effects of illegal mining, which has led to significant deforestation and pollution in various regions of the country.
