The Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) has issued an urgent call to action against armed illegal miners wreaking havoc in the nation’s forest reserves, warning of escalating violence and ecological disaster if immediate measures are not taken.
In a press release, GIF President, Abukari Nantogmah Attah revealed that 44 forest reserves are under siege by heavily armed gangs, some allegedly employing foreign mercenaries.
The groups, equipped with advanced weapons, have attacked Forestry Commission staff, including a recent near-fatal assault on a Rapid Response Team member in the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve.
“Our forest guards are outgunned and outnumbered,” Attah stated. “If rival gangs begin battling for territorial control, entire communities could become collateral damage.”
The crisis stems partly from L.I. 2462, a controversial law permitting state-sanctioned mining in protected forests. GIF demands its immediate repeal, citing violations of the 1927 Forest Act which designates reserves for water protection, biodiversity, and climate stability.
The Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) has presented an urgent three-point plan to address the growing crisis of armed illegal mining in the nation’s protected forests:
- Immediate Repeal of L.I. 2462
GIF demands the government honor its campaign promise to revoke the controversial law that permits mining in forest reserves, calling it incompatible with forest conservation goals. - Restricted Mining Under New Law
The Institute proposes replacement legislation that would: permit only deep-cast mining (less destructive underground operations) ban all surface and alluvial mining, exclude protected water-source forests entirely - Military Deployment Against Armed Gangs
With forest guards outmatched by miners wielding advanced weapons, GIF insists only military intervention can dismantle these dangerous operations and protect forestry personnel.
The Institute warns that unchecked mining could trigger irreversible environmental damage, threatening cocoa farms and water supplies. “Forest reserves are not mining concessions—they are a lifeline for future generations,” emphasized Attah.
GIF urges collaboration with stakeholders to enforce sustainable mining practices while safeguarding Ghana’s natural heritage.
Read the statement in full below:
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