In 2022, Ghana faced a significant environmental challenge, losing an astounding 18,000 hectares (44,500 acres) of forests—an area comparable to 30,000 football fields. Instead of fortifying protections for these forests, the government decided to loosen restrictions, paving the way for extensive mining activities, including in critical biodiversity zones. This policy shift has raised concerns among environmentalists and citizens alike.
Expanding Mining Operations in Protected Areas
In November 2022, Ghana’s government passed new legislation that allowed mining in previously protected areas, relaxed the rules for obtaining mining permits, and promoted further mineral extraction. As a result, approximately 200 active mining licenses now overlap with forest reserves, with industrial mining permits accounting for three-quarters of these operations. This legislative shift contradicts previous efforts to curb deforestation and has led to a rapid increase in mining permits being issued.
Daryl Bosu, deputy director of A Rocha Ghana, described the move as “very retrogressive.” According to Bosu, it contradicts the country’s earlier commitments to protect forests and prevent further degradation from mining.
The Case of Heritage Imperial Company Limited
The Apamprama Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Ashanti region illustrates the devastating impact of these policies. Nearly a third of this 3,630-hectare forest has disappeared over the last two decades, with the most severe losses occurring in the past five years. The destruction accelerated when Heritage Imperial Company Limited, which initially held a gold prospecting license, was granted an industrial mining license in 2020. This license enabled the company to extract resources across nearly the entire forest reserve.
Several reports, including from Ghanaian journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, accuse Heritage Imperial of conducting unauthorized mining activities and collaborating with foreign miners. Despite these allegations, the company continues its operations, seemingly protected by influential political connections.
Targeting Small-Scale Miners While Ignoring Larger Threats
While the government has heavily cracked down on galamsey—small-scale, informal mining—the larger and more destructive operations of industrial miners often go unchecked. According to Jasper Abembia Ayelazuno, a social scientist from the University for Development Studies, the government’s focus is misplaced. Ayelazuno argues that the fight against environmental destruction targets “the little fish” while leaving the “big fish” to continue harmful practices. This reflects a bias toward industrial-scale mining that further endangers Ghana’s forests.
The Legislative Changes and Their Wider Impact
Ghana’s new mining regulations have sparked fears that other forest reserves may face similar fates as Apamprama. In the first half of 2023 alone, the Minerals Commission issued 12 new mining leases, a higher number than in the previous two years combined. This includes permits in ecologically sensitive areas like the Atewa Range, designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area.
Environmentalists argue that these changes are short-sighted, sacrificing long-term ecological health for immediate economic gains. The expansion isn’t limited to gold mining—Ghana is also ramping up its search for lithium, a key component in renewable energy storage and electric vehicle batteries.
Controversy Over “National Interest”
While Ghana’s government claims that these moves are in the “national interest,” environmentalists strongly disagree. They argue that the laws are insufficient to protect forest reserves from the damage caused by large-scale mining operations. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that new guidelines will strengthen mining regulations, but critics see them as inadequate and poorly enforced.
Conclusion
As Ghana continues to balance economic interests with environmental preservation, the decisions it makes today will have lasting impacts on its natural heritage. The expansion of mining in forest reserves underscores a critical challenge for the country: finding a sustainable path that protects its unique biodiversity while fostering economic development.
