Prez Akufo-Addo’s Forest Restoration Claims at COP 29 Raise Questions Amid Widespread Illegal Mining and Environmental Crisis
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s 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.
The Coalition in a statement issued on Thursday, November 21, 2024, noted that while the statement by the President underscores Ghana’s commitment to combat deforestation and climate change, the reality on the ground paints a contrasting picture, arguing that the government’s record on illegal mining and forest conservation undermines its claims of progress in environmental restoration.
Ghana 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.
Despite initiatives such as tree-planting campaigns and pledges under international frameworks like the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, the country continues to experience widespread destruction of its natural resources.
According 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.
Asserting that, in 2022, the government joined the Forest and Climate Leaders’ 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.
Environmental 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’s forest conservation credentials.
These developments have further eroded Ghana’s 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.
Reports 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.
Environmental advocates argue that the government’s 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.
The 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.
President Akufo-Addo’s 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’s natural resources.
For a nation once hailed as a leader in sustainable forest management, the stakes could not be higher. Ghana’s environmental future and its standing on the global stage hangs in the balance.
