"Forestry Commission reclaims all red-zone forest reserves from armed illegal miners" — Lands Minister

In a significant step toward restoring Ghana’s degraded forestlands, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that the Forestry Commission, working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the Ghana Armed Forces, has successfully repossessed all nine red-zoned forest reserves previously under the control of armed gangs involved in illegal mining.

Speaking on the state of Ghana’s forest sector, the Minister described deforestation and forest degradation as one of the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges, driven by illegal mining, logging, wildfires, and unsustainable farming.

He revealed that over 5,500 hectares of forest reserves — equivalent to 7,500 football fields — have been severely degraded.

“This is a major achievement. The forest guards can now enter and patrol these reserves safely with support from security agencies,” the Minister stated.

While cautioning that threats remain, he emphasized that the government is committed to maintaining control and pushing back against environmental crime.

Mr. Buah also disclosed that 279 trucks transporting illegal lumber have been intercepted and sanctioned, and that the government is in the final phase of implementing the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license agreement with the European Union, which will ensure only legally sourced timber is exported to the EU market starting October 8, 2025.

“This marks a new chapter in forest governance,” he said, highlighting Ghana’s readiness to uphold sustainable forestry practices and combat deforestation.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith