The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has explained the government’s decision to revoke new mining licenses in Ghana’s forest reserves.
This follows the minister’s recent announcement revoking all mining licenses granted after the 2024 elections.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, March 22, Mr. Buah stated that the move is aimed at ensuring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retains its authority to regulate and monitor existing operations.
According to him, the government is taking concrete steps to prevent further degradation of forest reserves while reinforcing the EPA’s supervisory role.
He highlighted that within 21 days, Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 would be passed into law, formally removing the President’s discretionary power to approve mining in forest reserves.
“The original proposal was to completely revoke the L.I., but we have refined it to ensure that the EPA maintains its authority to enter forest reserves, monitor activities, and enforce environmental compliance. If we repealed the entire Act, the EPA would lose this power, which is why stopping new mining licenses is critical,” he explained.
By halting new licenses and focusing on monitoring existing operations, the government aims to curb illegal activities and ensure mining companies adhere to environmental regulations, he added.
Mr. Buah further hinted that the government may not extend existing mining leases once they expire, reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to sustainable environmental management.