Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has called for the establishment of a Fast-Track Court dedicated to swiftly prosecuting individuals who engage in illegal mining and environmental destruction.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, March 19, Buah emphasized that the current legal process is too slow to deter offenders, and urgent measures are needed to protect Ghana’s water bodies and forests.

"I am looking forward to the day, and I'm happy that I got a good reception from the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine," Mr Kofi Buah said.

"I believe that the time has come for us to set up a Fast-Track Court to try and prosecute those people who are engaging in this destruction of our forest reserves and our water bodies."

Mr Kofi Buah revealed that discussions on the matter have already taken place at the highest levels of government.

"Not only the Attorney General, I've gone to the Chief Justice, and she was very receptive. The Attorney General was very receptive, and we have had very good discussions on that," he disclosed.

"I believe that this is where we've gotten to. Trust me, this Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources can only work when we get support from all these agencies."

The minister stressed that while his ministry is responsible for policies on land and natural resource management, enforcement ultimately lies with other agencies.

"We don’t have the army, we don’t have the police. We have these policies, and we rely on all these agencies to give us support, and so far, I think the reception has been good," he noted.

The call for a Fast-Track Court comes amid growing concerns over illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey,’ which has led to severe deforestation and water pollution across the country.

Critics have long lamented that offenders either evade justice or face lengthy trials, making it difficult to curb the environmental damage.

Mr Kofi Buah’s proposal, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in Ghana’s approach to environmental crime enforcement, ensuring that perpetrators face swift and decisive legal action.

"We need to move beyond discussions and take real action to punish those wrecking our natural resources," he stated.

"Without swift justice, our efforts to protect the environment will be in vain."