In a decisive move to combat the scourge of illegal mining, President John Dramani Mahama has issued a blanket ban on government appointees engaging in any form of mining.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative’, President Mahama made it clear that any official who wishes to pursue mining interests must first relinquish their government position.
“I have directed that no government appointee at any level should engage in any form of legal or illegal mining. If you want to be a miner, leave government and go and be a miner,” he declared.
The President’s directive is part of a broader effort to restore the integrity of Ghana’s environmental governance and protect the nation’s natural resources.
“Illegal mining is a national crisis that threatens our economy, our health, and our very way of life,” President Mahama said, highlighting the severity of the issue. “Farmers are losing their farmlands, rivers are turning brown and toxic with pollution, and entire communities are being affected.”
The ‘Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative’ is a key component of the government’s environmental restoration strategy, aimed at reclaiming degraded lands and promoting sustainable forest management.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah emphasized the urgency of the initiative, warning that Ghana’s forest cover was dwindling at an alarming rate.
“This initiative envisions transforming heavily degraded areas into functional and vibrant ecosystems that support biodiversity and human livelihoods,” he stated.