Lands Minister Nominee Pledges to Halt New Mining in Forest Reserves

Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister-designate, has promised that no new mining activities will be permitted in Ghana’s forest reserves under his leadership, should his appointment be confirmed.

Speaking during his vetting before the Parliamentary Vetting Committee on January 27, 2025, Buah underscored his strong commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable resource management.

He emphasized that protecting the country’s forest reserves from mining activities would be a top priority for his ministry.

“We have said that there will be no new mining activities in forest reserves,” Buah declared. “Our goal is to amend Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 to remove any provision that allows mining in these reserves.”

The minister-designate added that this move reflects the government’s resolve to prioritize environmental protection as a central element of his policy agenda.

Buah explained that one of his first actions, if appointed, would be to push for the amendment of L.I. 2462 to prevent further mining incursions into protected forest areas. “If you give me the chance, my first activity will be to ensure that there will be no new mining activities in forest reserves,” he assured.

The proposed policy change aims to prevent any future encroachments into forest lands for mining purposes, reinforcing the government’s commitment to preserving Ghana’s natural resources.