Ghana has lost nearly half of its forest reserves, a situation Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah describes as a national crisis requiring urgent attention.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, March 22, 2025, Mr Buah revealed that recent data presented to Parliament shows that 44 per cent of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have already been destroyed largely due to illegal mining and logging activities.

“I stood in Parliament and said, ‘We are in a crisis.’ It’s not a political point, it’s a national alarm,” Mr Buah said. “Out of 288 forest reserves, 44% have already been destroyed.”

He disclosed that nine of the reserves have been classified as “red zones” because of the level of damage they have suffered.

The Minister said the government, through the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces, is stepping up operations to reclaim affected areas.

He also mentioned the “Tree for Life” campaign as part of efforts to restore degraded lands.

According to Mr Buah, the intensified response has started yielding results. Seven of the nine “red zone” forests have now been downgraded to “yellow,” indicating reduced illegal activity and gradual recovery.

Even so, he warned that without consistent national support, particularly from communities living near forest reserves, further losses could occur. He stressed that Ghana’s forests are not just about timber or conservation, they are directly linked to water security, weather patterns, and livelihoods.

“This is not just about trees. It’s about the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the future of this country,” Mr Buah said.

He urged Ghanaians especially the youth to get involved in reforestation efforts and called for tougher legal action against those who destroy forest lands, including foreign nationals engaged in illegal mining and logging.