Ghana Institute of Foresters says the operations of members to protect some of Ghana’s forest reserves from illegal mining activities and other invaders are impeded by threats from “marauding” gangs protecting the miners.

According to the Institute, forest reserves like Desiri (near Tepa), Subri River (at Daboase) and Asenanyo River (at Nyinahin) have become ‘no go’ areas after the gangs threatened to hurt foresters who attempted to halt illegal mining activities in the reserves.

In a press statement, the association indicated the miners and their guards are empowered by influential people and institutions to forge on with their illegal activities.

“These gallant efforts have not been able to completely stop illegal mining in our forest reserves because the foresters have sometimes had to face heavily-armed miners linked to influential persons and entities that the foresters are not able to overpower.

Forest reserves like Desiri (near Tepa), Subri River (at Daboase) and Asenanyo River (at Nyinahin) have become ‘no go’ areas for our foresters due to the threat of bodily harm or death by armed marauding gangs protecting illegal miners in these forests,” said the group.

In a press statement, the group explains they have in the first two quarters of the year arrested over 400 persons illicitly operating in forest reserves and also destroyed 154 excavators in 2023.

But these efforts have yielded no results as illegal mining continues unabated in the country’s forest reserves.

“Our foresters have risked their lives in their effort to protect our forest reserves from illegal miners. Indeed, since 2023, our foresters have successfully destroyed 154 excavators found illegally operating in our forest reserves and arrested over 600 persons involved in illegal mining within forest reserves,” the statement read.

In November 2022, the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation (L.I. 2462) was passed to allow permits for mining in protected forests. This has since seen twelve forest reserve mining leases issued with fourteen others at various approval stages by the Minerals Commission.

“This is very worrying. It is important to note that about 80% of the approved forest reserve mining leases are for alluvial mining, which are incompatible with forestry as a land use option. Not even the ecologically-sensitive Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas have been spared. The GIF was completely left in the dark throughout the process leading to the passage of L.I. 2462. Currently, 37 forest reserves have been impacted by mining activities, with the severely impacted reserves including Uppaw Wassaw, Apamprama Forest Reserve, Oda River Forest Reserve, Subin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve, Asenanyo River Forest Reserve, etc,” the statement read.

The foresters are joining calls for the government to declare a state of emergency with an immediate ban on illegal mining that are ravaging forest reserves, water bodies among other natural resources.

They have specific demands from the legislative, executive and judiciary to act responsively to the threats of illegal mining.

The foresters are calling for the repeal and revocation of all legislative instruments which were passed on their blindside, and have opened the gates for many others to mine in forest reserves with impunity.

“Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 and the withdrawal of all licenses granted for prospecting and mining in forests and protected reserves (including GSBA) and around water bodies. Executive Instrument (EI) 234 that de-reserved about one-third of the Achimota Forest Reserve. The government should desist from setting bad precedent for de-reserving reserved lands,” the statement read.

They are also requesting that the President and the government deploy a military and police taskforce to support the Forestry Commission in carrying out their mandates to protect the forests as well as resourcing the commission.

The institute wants the judiciary to expedite all impending cases of illegal mining brought before the courts as there are currently over 850 illegal miners’ cases pending.

They allege some cases have seen suspects of Chinese origin acquitted owing to the lack of interpreters.

“Currently, 850 illegal miners' cases are pending before the courts. In some instances, Chinese illegal miners are released due to a lack of interpreters. We call for the urgent allocation of resources to these courts to enable them to expedite the illegal mining cases brought before them,” the statement added.

They are supporting calls for a mass civil action if the government fails to adopt decisive measures to address the concerns by the end of September 2024.

“We must defend our forests and water resources from the greedy economic interests of a few,” the statement concluded.