The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Yusif Alhassan has affirmed that the ongoing National Landscape Forum will help address the destruction of our Natural resources caused by illegal mining popularly called galamsey.
He emphasized that galamsey continues to threaten government’s quest to achieve an inclusive and sustainable growth for it’s natural resources, stressing the need to confront it head on.
The Deputy Minister who represented the Sector Minister, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah, was speaking at the opening ceremony of a 3-Day National Landscape Forum (2-4 April, 2025) held in Accra by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) and Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology under the auspices of the World Bank.
“Ghana’s forests, minerals, and water bodies are under siege. Deforestation, degradation, pollution, and climate change threaten not just our ecosystems but our very livelihoods. Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), in particular, has reached crisis levels, stripping our land of biodiversity, poisoning our rivers, and endangering public health.
We are seeing communities where once-lush forests have been reduced to barren pits, and rivers that once provided drinking water now ran brown with toxic sediments. The devastation is not just environmental—it is a blow to our food security and well-being. This is the reality we must confront!”, the Deputy Minister emphasized.
Group Photograph of leadership of various stakeholders at the Forum
He said as a Ministry, safeguarding Ghana’s environment and natural resources is a priority hence the implementation of a 5- Point Strategy to help protect Ghana’s natiral resources.
Some of the strategy he said includes reforms on the issuance of licensing to small scale miners whilst strengthening of enforcement within the small scale mining space.
The rest are enhancing stakeholder engagement, providing alternative livelihood of the people and finally restoring or reclaiming the degraded lands and forest.
Hon. Alhassan also revealed that the Ministry has implemented some initiatives such as the Blue Water Initiative and Tree for Life, all geared towards ensuring the sustainability of our natural resources.
He also expressed the commitment of government and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to intensify the fight against activities that destroy our natural resources.
The MP for Bongo later commended the World Bank for funding such a Forum, calling on the Participants to prioritize the Forum since it offers bold and practical solutions to our natural resources challenges.
On her part, the Program Lead at the World Bank Ghana Office, Madam Naila Ahmed called on government to integrate the landscape management into its strategy to promote inclusive and sustainable growth of forest reserves.
According to her 35% to 40% jobs in Ghana are centered on agriculture but the destruction of the natural resources makes it difficult for the sustainability of such jobs.
Madam Ahmed however expressed optimism for Ghana’s Natural Resources explaining that the Forum will explore how sustainable natural resource management can drive inclusive economic growth for Ghana as it faces increasing environmental challenges.
“This forum will highlight the critical role of forests, landscapes, and ecosystems in shaping the country’s future”, the World Band Program Lead said.
The 3-Day Forum, [which saw the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Sciemce and Environment, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Forestry Commission among others] is under the theme “Natural Resources Management and Forest Economy for Inclusive and Sustainable growth”.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
