Five forest reserves in Ghana remain under the control of armed miners, as illegal mining continues to threaten the country’s protected forests, the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) has disclosed.

According to a communique from the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF), at the start of 2025, nine forest reserves had been overtaken by armed miners, preventing foresters from accessing these areas.

“Fifty protected reserves comprising 49 forest reserves and one wildlife reserve, Bui National Park, have been affected by mining activities. At the beginning of 2025, nine forest reserves had been taken over by armed miners who prevented access by foresters. By October, five forest reserves remain under the control of armed miners, including Apamprama Forest Reserve, Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve, Oda River Forest Reserve, Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, and Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.”

By October, the number of forest reserves under such control had reduced to five. The reserves most heavily affected include Apamprama, Offin Shelterbelt, Oda River, Tano Anwia, and Tano Nimri.

In total, fifty protected reserves—49 forest reserves and one wildlife reserve, Bui National Park—have been impacted by mining activities.

The findings were presented during the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Institute of Foresters, held on November 6, 2025, at the Amonoo-Neizer (IDL) Conference Centre, KNUST, Kumasi. The AGM, themed “Foresters at the Forefront of Change: Tackling Mining Challenges and Advancing Forest Restoration,” brought together about 150 members and was chaired by Prof. Kyereh Boateng of KNUST’s Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.

Dr. Hugh Brown, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission and keynote speaker, highlighted the dangers posed by illegal mining, stressing that “several forest reserves have been taken over by armed miners, preventing access by our foresters and compromising conservation efforts.”

Presentations at the meeting also shed light on the broader environmental impact of small-scale mining. Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor of Multimedia Group Ltd. noted that over 60% of Ghana’s water bodies have been polluted, while Mr. Mustapha Seidu, Director of the Nature and Development Foundation, discussed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, its effects on forests, and ongoing government efforts to revoke it to strengthen protection.

GIF members called for stronger enforcement, enhanced collaboration with security agencies, and intensified public education to curb illegal mining and safeguard Ghana’s forests