By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, July 15, GNA – Cabinet has taken a historic decision to effectively revoke Executive Instrument (E.I 144) as amended by E.I 234, ensuring that the Achimota Forest retains its original status as a Forest Reserve and providing ecological safety zone for Accra and its environs.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, made the disclosure on Wednesday, July 15, when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series Press Conference held at the Presidency.
“If you think about it, this is the only last man standing forest cover in Accra and President Mahama is determined to protect it at all costs,” he said.
Mr Buah said in their determination to protect the nation’s forests from illegal mining activities, the Ministry was working closely with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders intensified enforcement operations within forest reserves.
He said these operations resulted in the following, of which the breakdown included: 258 suspects arrested, six Excavators demobilised, 1,225 pumping machines seized, 765 Changfan machines demobilised, 35 Tricycles destroyed, 212 motorbikes seized and demobilised, 430 structures destroyed, and 40 Gold detectors seized.
Giving an account of the Ministry’s performance over the first half of 2026, Mr Buah noted that they had not had any Red zones since December 2025.
Concerning Wildlife Resource Management Regulation, Mr Buah said as part of efforts to strengthen Wildlife Conservation and management, the Ministry in collaboration with the Forestry Commission was developing a Legislative Instrument to give effect to the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115).
He said this Legislative Instrument when approved, would provide legal backing and operational guidelines for Community Resources Management Areas (CREMAs), which had now become a model for engaging communities and landowners in sustainable forest management.
Touching on Reclamation of Mined-out Areas, the Minister said the Ministry in collaboration with the private sector had embarked on an aggressive strategy to reclaim degraded mined-out areas and transform them into an ecologically functional landscape.
He said in partnership with the private sector, 1,535 acres of degraded land had been reclaimed and restored in the Ashanti Region.
“We’ve got commitments from the private sector to undertake more reclamation, and we’re targeting 1,500 acres to be reclaimed by the end of the year,” Mr Buah said.
He said the Government on its own, was also working to reclaim 960 acres of land in selected degraded areas across the country.
With regards to Ecotourism Promotion and Revenue Diversification, Mr Buah said one of the key priorities of the Government was to maximize revenues from forest and wildlife resources.
He said to achieve this, the Ministry through the Forestry Commission was improving ecotourism facilities within their national parks and resource reserves.
“Our focus this year will be on the completion of the 120-seater capacity picnic area and a 10-unit chalet at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve,” Mr Buah said.
The Minister said additionally, a 20-room tourist accommodation and restaurant at the Mole National Park would be completed.
On Issuance of Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) License, Mr Buah recalled that Ghana in August 2025 became the first country in Africa and second in the world to qualify for the issuance of FLEGT licenses.
He said Ghana had issued over 600 licenses to about 22 destinations in the European Union since 2025.
Mr Buah said at the end of the 2nd quarter of 2026, four hundred and eleven (411) licenses were issued.
He reiterated that the FLEGT licenses had enhanced Ghana’s credibility in the timber trade internationally.
This, he said had also enhanced Ghana’s global standing in its efforts towards climate resilience.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo