Government Restores Achimota Forest Reserve, Rolls Out New Mining Laws to Protect Environment

The Government has announced sweeping policy reforms aimed at strengthening environmental protection, including restoring the Achimota Forest to its original reserve status and introducing new mining regulations to improve governance in the extractive sector.

Addressing the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said the measures form part of government’s broader strategy to safeguard Ghana’s forests, water bodies and mineral resources.

One of the key announcements was Cabinet’s decision on June 24, 2026, to revoke Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, thereby restoring Achimota Forest as a protected forest reserve.

According to the Minister, the decision preserves the forest as an important ecological buffer for Accra and surrounding communities while preventing future encroachment.

Mr. Buah also announced that Cabinet has approved a revised Minerals and Mining Policy 2014 and a new Minerals and Mining Bill to replace the existing Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

The proposed legislation introduces several reforms, including the establishment of district mining committees, the creation of a medium-scale mining category, a maximum mining lease period of 20 years, and mandatory Community Development Agreements between mining companies and host communities.

Government has also passed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2517 – Minerals and Mining (Royalties) Regulations, 2025, introducing a sliding-scale royalty system that adjusts royalty payments based on mineral prices to protect both state revenue and mining companies during market fluctuations.

Beyond legislative reforms, the Ministry is accelerating environmental restoration through the Tree for Life Restoration Initiative.

Mr. Buah disclosed that approximately 31 million seedlings were planted in 2025, restoring about 23,600 hectares of degraded land. Government plans to plant another 30 million seedlings in 2026, supported by 2,719 Youth Forest Champions engaged in nursery development, tree planting and forest protection.

The Minister further announced that the Electronic Land Information System (ELIS) has been rolled out in nine regions, enabling citizens to access land search services online without visiting Lands Commission offices.

Government has also launched the Strategic Land Administration Reform Project (SLARP) and is piloting Land Banks to provide secure land for large-scale agricultural and agro-industrial investments.

Reaffirming government’s commitment to environmental protection, Mr. Buah stressed that natural resources must be preserved for future generations.

“Our rivers are not for sale. Our forests are not expendable. Our mineral wealth is a sacred national inheritance that we have a duty to protect,” he said.

He added that, protecting Ghana’s natural resources requires a collective effort, urging traditional authorities, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and the general public to actively support government’s environmental protection agenda. He stressed that stronger collaboration among stakeholders would help sustain efforts to reclaim polluted rivers, restore degraded forests and promote responsible management of the country’s mineral resources.