President John Dramani Mahama has announced a government policy to ban the issuance of mining leases in all forest reserves as part of efforts to protect the country’s natural environment from destruction.

Speaking at the swearing-in of the 3rd batch of ministers on Thursday, January 30, he noted that the government would also move swiftly to revoke all licenses issued for the same purpose under the previous government.

Mr Mahama emphasised the need to safeguard Ghana’s forests from illegal mining (galamsey) and unsustainable exploitation.

“It shall be the policy of this government to ban the issuance of leases for mining in all forest reserves. We must also move promptly to revoke all leases issued for the same purpose under the previous government.”

The President further clarified that his administration has not authorised any mining activities in forest reserves, dismissing recent reports to the contrary.

He called on the relevant ministers, including the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minister for the Interior, and the Attorney General, to take immediate action against those engaging in illegal mining.

“No member of this government is permitted to engage in any form of small-scale mining or galamsey. Any such persons will face swift and severe sanctions,” he warned.

Read Also: Akufo-Addo’s final week in office saw 102 mining licenses issued

Additionally, President Mahama announced plans for a national stakeholder consultation on illegal mining to develop a collective strategy for addressing the issue.

Key initiatives, he noted will include: the introduction of a River Guard programme to employ youth from affected communities in protecting water bodies, cleaning and removing toxic substances from polluted rivers, reclaiming degraded lands and restoring forest reserves, training small-scale miners in sustainable mining practices, and establishing a Gold Board to ensure Ghana fully benefits from its gold resources.

Data from the Ghana Mining Repository shows that over a hundred mining-related licenses were issued in the last week of former President Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Out of the 103 licenses issued in the year 2025, 102 were granted between January 1st and January 6th, before the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama.

This means only one license has been issued under the current government.

Read Also: More than 100 mining-related licenses issued in the final week of Akufo-Addo’s gov’t