The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has highlighted significant achievements and policy reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s mining, forestry and environmental sectors while promoting sustainable development and local participation.
The Minister announced that in August 2025, Ghana became the first country in Africa and the second in the world to qualify for the issuance of FLEGT licences. Since then, the country has issued more than 600 FLEGT licences covering exports to about 22 destinations across the European Union, reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to legal and sustainable timber trade.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah also announced a historic Cabinet decision taken on 24 June 2026 to revoke Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234. The decision restores the Achimota Forest to its original status as a Forest Reserve, safeguarding the ecological buffer that protects Accra and its surrounding communities.
In the mining sector, the Minister noted that the passage of the Minerals and Mining (Royalties) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2517) introduced a sliding-scale royalty system that enables government to earn higher revenues during commodity booms while easing financial pressure on mining companies during downturns, thereby supporting business continuity and protecting jobs.
He further revealed that Cabinet has approved a revised Minerals and Mining Policy, replacing the 2014 policy. The revised framework seeks to deepen local participation in the mining industry through value addition, strengthen linkages with Ghana’s manufacturing sector, and intensify efforts to combat illegal mining while protecting the environment.
According to the Minister, the government’s vision is to ensure that Ghana’s mineral resources create lasting prosperity by empowering Ghanaians to become owners, investors, innovators and manufacturers within the mining value chain.
The Minister also disclosed that the Minerals Commission has completed a 500-seat Sports Complex at Kenyasi, established the Savannah Regional Office in Bole, and completed district offices at Damang, Bibiani and Akim Oda to improve service delivery and strengthen the Commission’s operational presence in mining communities.
To intensify the fight against illegal mining, government recruited, trained and deployed an additional 452 Blue Water Guards, increasing total deployment across eight regions to 2,069 personnel dedicated to protecting Ghana’s rivers and water bodies.
He further stated that 4,347 earth-moving and mining equipment units have been registered at the Tema Port, while 1,864 tracking devices have been installed to enhance monitoring and regulatory compliance.
Through collaboration among the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Cooperatives and the Ghana Revenue Authority, rCOMSDEP has successfully registered more than 9,000 miners and 700 cooperatives across eight mining regions to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices.
The Minister also announced that, under a partnership with the African Development Bank and the Social Investment Fund, rCOMSDEP is co-implementing the Ghana Women and Youth Economic Empowerment and Social Cohesion (GWYESCO) Project (2026–2029). The initiative will support 10,000 women and young people in the Upper West, Upper East, Savannah, Central and Eastern regions through skills training, entrepreneurship development and start-up support.
On land restoration, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah revealed that 1,535 acres of degraded land have been reclaimed in the Ashanti Region through private sector partnerships. Additional commitments have been secured to reclaim 1,500 more acres before the end of the year, while government is independently reclaiming 960 acres of degraded land across selected parts of the country.
The Minister further disclosed that the Forestry Commission has recruited and deployed 2,719 Youth Forest Champions, who are actively engaged in nursery operations, seedling production, site preparation, tree planting, plantation maintenance, wildfire prevention and the protection of forest reserves.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to responsible natural resource management, environmental sustainability and ensuring that Ghana’s natural wealth delivers long-term economic benefits for all citizens.
