"Prez Akufo-Addo’s Forest Restoration Claims at COP 29 Raise Questions Amid Widespread Illegal Mining and Environmental Crisis"

" Prez Akufo-Addo's Forest Restoration Claims at COP 29 Raise Questions Amid Widespread Illegal Mining and Environmental Crisis \r\n\r\nPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo\u2019s recent assertion at COP 29 in Baku that Ghana has restored 721,000 hectares of forest since 2017 has sparked sharp criticism from environmental advocates and civil society groups such as the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey.\r\n\r\nThe Coalition in a statement issued on Thursday, November 21, 2024, noted that while the statement by the President underscores Ghana\u2019s commitment to combat deforestation and climate change, the reality on the ground paints a contrasting picture, arguing that the government\u2019s record on illegal mining and forest conservation undermines its claims of progress in environmental restoration.\r\n\r\nGhana has long grappled with the dual challenges of forest degradation and illegal mining, known locally as galamsey . The economic and environmental consequences of this phenomenon are well-documented.\r\n\r\nDespite initiatives such as tree-planting campaigns and pledges under international frameworks like the Forest and Climate Leaders\u2019 Partnership, the country continues to experience widespread destruction of its natural resources.\r\n\r\nAccording to the Coalition, the claim of large-scale restoration by President Akufo-Addo comes at a time when Ghana has seen a surge in forest degradation, much of it underpinned by government-endorsed mining operations and weak enforcement of environmental safeguards.\r\n\r\nAsserting that, in 2022, the government joined the Forest and Climate Leaders\u2019 Partnership, a global initiative to protect forests and promote sustainable development. Yet, in the same year, it passed Regulation L.I. 2462, opening previously protected forests to mining activities. This regulatory shift has been accompanied by the issuance of numerous mining leases, threatening to convert critical forest reserves into vast mining sites.\r\n\r\nEnvironmental experts say over 48,000 hectares of forest reserves have been earmarked for mining, with 4,800 hectares already lost to these activities. At least 35 forest reserves are reported to have been severely impacted by illegal mining, undermining their ecological integrity and casting doubt on Ghana\u2019s forest conservation credentials.\r\n\r\nThese developments have further eroded Ghana\u2019s position as a credible leader in global climate and forest management initiatives. The situation is exacerbated by galamsey , which has devastated agricultural lands, polluted rivers, and displaced communities.\r\n\r\nReports from the Ghana Cocoa Board reveal that illegal mining has affected 68% of cocoa farmlands in the Ashanti Region, 81% in the Eastern Region, and 74% in the Western Region. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, an estimated 21,000 hectares of cocoa farms were destroyed.\r\n\r\nEnvironmental advocates argue that the government\u2019s policies and actions are at odds with its international commitments. While the administration boasts of forest restoration through tree-planting initiatives, these efforts pale in comparison to the scale of deforestation and environmental degradation across the country.\r\n\r\nThe Coalition and other Civil society organizations (CSOs) and community groups have played a crucial role in holding the government accountable. Despite systemic challenges, including suppression of dissent and limited resources, these groups have continued to demand stronger enforcement of environmental laws and greater transparency in the issuance of mining permits.\r\n\r\nPresident Akufo-Addo\u2019s speech at COP 29 has drawn attention to a pressing issue but also exposed a disconnect between rhetoric and action. As his tenure nears its end, the President faces mounting pressure to demonstrate tangible progress in combating illegal mining and restoring Ghana\u2019s natural resources.\r\n\r\nFor a nation once hailed as a leader in sustainable forest management, the stakes could not be higher. Ghana\u2019s environmental future and its standing on the global stage hangs in the balance."

"Prez Akufo-Addo’s Forest Restoration Claims at COP 29 Raise Questions Amid Widespread Illegal Mining and Environmental Crisis"

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