Story By: Juliet Akosua Danquah
The Ghana Institute of Foresters is calling for urgent action to protect the country’s forests from the devastating impact of mining. The Institute is pushing for a new law that would strictly regulate mining in forest reserves, permitting only deep-cast mining in designated areas.
GIF wants to safeguard water sources and biodiversity hotspots by banning surface and alluvial mining in forest reserves. Data presented at their 28th Annual General Meeting shows a worrying trend: open forests are expanding, while closed forests are dwindling.
Fifty protected areas, including forest reserves and the Bui National Park, have been affected by mining. Armed miners have taken over nine forest reserves, with five still under their control.
GIF is also advocating for the restoration of on-site destruction of excavators used for illegal mining, saying it’s an effective deterrent. The Institute condemns the recent attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and praises security agencies for their response.
