ACCRA, Oct 13 (The African Portal) – Ghana’s Vice-President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says the government is drafting new legislation to ban all mining in water bodies and forest reserves as part of efforts to combat environmental degradation.
Speaking to members of the Ghanaian community in Belgium during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Prof Opoku-Agyemang described illegal mining — locally known as galamsey — as a national crisis that continues to destroy rivers, forests and livelihoods.
She said the forthcoming bill would overturn existing laws that allow mining in protected areas and impose tougher penalties on offenders.
“We are working towards banning mining in water bodies. A bill is being prepared to reverse what you saw and to ensure that people are moved out of these areas and properly relocated,” she said.
“What is even more disturbing is that when some mine, they leave the land bare.”
The Vice-President also criticised the failure of some miners to cover open pits, warning that the practice poses serious environmental and public safety risks.
Her comments follow recent remarks by Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, who said a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) would soon be laid before Parliament to repeal L.I. 2462 — the regulation that currently permits mining in forest reserves.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, said the government is reviewing more than 2,100 mining licences issued between 2017 and 2024, many of which were granted to politically connected individuals.
He warned that those found to have engaged in illegal mining would face prosecution, adding that the government’s ultimate goal was to restore Ghana’s polluted rivers and water bodies.
