In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama outlined the government’s decisive steps to address the menace of illegal mining (galamsey), which has devastated Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
Galamsey has resulted in severe land degradation and pollution of major water sources, posing an existential threat to both the environment and public health.
President Mahama emphasized that urgent action is required to reverse the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
To this effect, his administration is implementing a comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy involving law enforcement, regulatory reforms, afforestation programmes, and economic alternatives for affected communities.
The President painted a stark picture of the environmental destruction caused by galamsey, revealing that 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have been affected. This amounts to an area equivalent to 7,504 football pitches, illustrating the scale of the crisis.
Furthermore, he highlighted the worsening water pollution in major rivers within the Southwestern Basin, where turbidity levels have exceeded permissible limits. This has dire consequences for communities that depend on these rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating illegal mining through a robust and impartial approach.
“We are expanding the Minerals Commission’s regional offices to strengthen regulatory oversight. We are establishing a framework that categorizes mining activities into small, medium, and large-scale operations, each with tailored regulations.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
Furthermore, the government is in the process of establishing a Gold Board, which will ensure effective governance of the gold industry. This institution is expected to play a crucial role in monitoring and regulating gold mining operations to curb illegal activities.
Sustainable Resource Utilization
To provide viable alternatives for communities dependent on galamsey, the government is launching alternative livelihood programmes aimed at creating sustainable employment in mining-affected areas. These initiatives will offer training and resources for legal and environmentally responsible mining practices.
“At the same time, we wish to take advantage of Ghana’s salt production capacity to place it as a central export commodity under the AfCFTA.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
The anticipated integrated aluminum and iron industries will add significant value to Ghana’s natural resources while ensuring environmental sustainability.
“Government is also seizing opportunities presented by the global shift towards net-zero emissions to craft policies related to critical minerals such as lithium.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
These programmes will transform deforested areas into ecological recovery zones, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
“In our commitment to restoring degraded forests, we will launch the ‘Tree for Life‘ restoration policy and the Blue Water Initiative, which will transform mined-out areas into ecological recovery zones. This ambitious afforestation programme aims to establish 20,000 hectares of new plantations and undertake 5,000 hectares of enrichment planting annually.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
The President also stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to promote sustainable forest management practices and uphold the Wildlife Resources Management Act.
Ghana’s Climate Change Strategy
Beyond addressing galamsey, President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to climate change mitigation under the Paris Agreement.
“Mr. Speaker, climate change remains a pressing concern for Ghana and the global community. To meet our climate mitigation targets, Ghana has allocated 24 million metric tonnes of its carbon budget—totalling 64 million metric tonnes—for authorisation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. We have successfully authorised three projects that are poised to reduce 5.2 million tonnes of carbon emissions.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
In line with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 Manifesto, the government is committed to strengthening institutional and human capacity for climate adaptation and mitigation.
“In line with the National Democratic Congress’s 2024 Manifesto, we are committed to strengthening institutional and human capacity through necessary adaptation and mitigation measures to bolster resilience in critical sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, and water resources. We also pledge to align our national policies with international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050 and promote a fair and just transition to renewable energy sources.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama’s address underscores the government’s resolute commitment to tackling illegal mining, restoring degraded forests, and promoting sustainable economic alternatives.
Through strong regulatory enforcement, afforestation projects, and climate action policies, Ghana is poised to combat environmental degradation and ensure a greener future for generations to come.
His comprehensive approach—balancing law enforcement, economic opportunities, and environmental restoration—signals a determined effort to address one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges.
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