Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana Urges Stronger Action To Save Forests And Rivers

Story by Fada Amakye

The Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana has commended government for revoking EI 144 but says more must be done to protect Ghana’s forests, rivers and mining communities from illegal mining.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition, said progress reported by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Amakye, on 15th July 2026, was not enough.

“Ghana’s forests, rivers, and mining communities are not protected by press briefings. They are protected by sustained, fearless, uniform enforcement applied equally in every region against every excavator,” Dr. Ashigbey said.

Dr. Ashigbey praised the government’s bold cabinet decision on 24th June 2026 to revoke EI 144 as amended by EI 234, which had gazetted portions of the Achimota Forest for purposes other than its function as a protective green lung within the Accra settlement.

“We highly commend this government for choosing citizens’ well-being and intergenerational benefit over short-term political expedience,” he said.
He also noted the Minister’s efforts toward the repeal of LI 2462, describing it as “a feather in its cap.

Despite the commendation, Dr. Ashigbey said the state of Ghana’s forests remains “gloomy.” He cited ongoing encroachment in key reserves.

source of water for over 5 million Ghanaians, remains under serious pressure. Critical to Ghana’s first marine protected area, is still under threat.

Forestry Commission staff last Friday had to demobilize an excavator operating illegally in the Bibiani Forest District.

At risk from a legal mining concession granted to Better Land, despite objections from communities and landowners.

“A cleared red zone is not the same as a safe forest,” he stated. “Most of our forest reserves remain under vicious encroachment from illegal miners, and the sheer scale is more than the Forestry Commission can manage alone.

The Coalition also commended the Attorney General for dropping charges against the Atebubu 8, describing them as “gallant men and women who were fighting to protect the only stream that gave them water.

Dr. Ashigbey further urged the IGP and Attorney General to investigate the murder of a 30-year-old in Kyebi-Kansa. “Justice should be served in this case,” he said.

He called on government to empower the Forestry Commission with resources and personnel to undertake urgent operations to halt all illegal mining in forest reserves, and to “militarize the forestry” for better protection.

“We are slacking in this fight,” he warned. “We ask again: empower the Forestry Commission and educate officers on the ground.

The Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana says it will continue to monitor government action and hold authorities accountable until Ghana’s water bodies and forests are fully protected.