Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has revealed that the government is preparing new legislation to outlaw all mining activities in Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.

Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Belgium during her visit to the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, the Vice President described illegal mining — widely known as galamsey — as a national crisis that continues to destroy rivers, forests, and livelihoods.

She said the new law will reverse existing provisions that permit mining in protected areas and introduce tougher measures to hold offenders accountable.

“We’re working towards banning mining in water bodies. A bill is being prepared to reverse what you saw and to ensure that the people are moved out of these areas and properly placed.

"What is even more disturbing is the fact that when some mine, they just leave the place bare,” she said.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also condemned the practice of leaving uncovered mining pits, warning that such negligence poses severe environmental and safety hazards.

Her remarks echo those of Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, who recently disclosed that a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) will be laid before Parliament to repeal L.I. 2462 — the regulation that currently allows mining in forest reserves.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, revealed that the government is reviewing more than 2,100 mining licences issued between 2017 and 2024, many of which were granted to politically connected individuals.

He warned that all those found guilty of engaging in illegal mining will face prosecution, adding that the government’s ultimate goal is to restore Ghana’s polluted water bodies to their natural state.