Ghana’s forests were once places of balance. From the northern savannahs to the southern rainforests, the land offered both beauty and function. The scent of fresh soil after rain, the shade of Wawa trees, and the harmony of birdsong under Odum and Mahogany trees shaped everyday life for nearby communities.
These forests were more than just beautiful views. They were important places for plants, animals, and farming, providing food, homes, and safety.
Forests on the Brink
Today, in many of these forests, the soundscape has changed. The canopy no longer holds birdsong. Instead, the hum of machinery, smoke from burning roots, and pools of tainted water mark their transformation.
While illegal logging has historically drained Ghana’s forests—costing the country over $100 million annually in uncollected timber revenue, according to research by Prof. Joseph Kofi Teye—illegal gold mining is altering the land more visibly and quickly.
Across six of Ghana’s sixteen regions, a staggering 45 out of 288 forest reserves have been ravaged by illegal mining activities. In nine of these, the damage is absolute—ecosystems dismantled, biodiversity lost. The trees that once absorbed carbon and sheltered wildlife are gone, leaving open wounds in the land.
When these trees fall, the systems they sustained also collapse. Rivers shrink, crops wilt, and formerly temperate climates become harsh. According to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, 5,252 hectares of forest reserves have been lost to illegal gold mining—known locally as “galamsey.”
The Mechanics of Destruction
Illegal miners, armed with tools such as pickaxes, shovels, changfang machines, excavators, and pump machines, frequently operate in environmentally sensitive areas, including rivers and protected forests.
The process typically begins by clearing vegetation with chainsaws. Excavators then remove soil in search of gold veins. This soil is processed with mercury or cyanide—both hazardous to human and environmental health.
Galamsey is especially rampant in the Western and Middle Belt regions of Ghana. David Nana Kudiewu-Miod, a geological mining expert with licensed firm Mohammed Brothers in Tarkwa, has witnessed this devastation firsthand. Born in Obuasi and working in Tarkwa—both gold towns—he observes that while illegal mining has long existed, it has worsened drastically in the past two decades.
“Even before the implementation of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), illegal mining was already a concern. Once a mining company, whether licensed or not, disregards the established mining protocols, its operations become illegal. Notably, approximately 70% of illegal mining activities are clandestinely backed by politicians. And the truth is, we know who they are, and they are aware that we know of their involvement.”
The Business of Galamsey
“Galamsey is no longer a haphazard affair. It’s an organized illegal business, run by artisanal miners with financial backers, managers, and logistical support.”
“It’s the miners who risk their lives underground in search of gold who work the hardest. Interestingly, some of these miners are educated, having completed nursing training, polytechnic, or university programs, as well as junior and senior high school certificates.”
“Their daily earnings vary depending on the samples and machinery used; the more they work, the more they earn. A group of three to four miners can earn up to 10,000 cedis, equivalent to $1,000, in a month,” he said.
Touching on the health implications of illegal mining, Mr. Kudiewu-Miod revealed a fact: “In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disclosed findings from a research study conducted with Newmont Mining Corporation in Tarkwa. The study sampled the blood of individuals not directly involved in mining activities, such as food sellers, hawkers, and street traders in Tarkwa. Alarmingly, the results showed higher concentrations of heavy metals, particularly mercury, in their blood.”
Women in the Shadows
Research published in 2022, titled “Gender and Labor Force Inequality in Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana,” captured what life looks like for women surviving at the edges of galamsey.
“We wake up at 4 a.m., cook for the men, and then head to the site to pound the rocks,” said Akosua Kwakye, an ore processor in Prestea.
“It’s not safe, but we don’t have options,” added Maame Ama from Tarkwa.
In these communities, girls sometimes leave school to sell food at mining sites. A teacher observed, “What they earn in a day is more than what their mothers earn in a week.”
Yet, the work rarely translates into real recognition. “The men don’t think we belong here, so they keep the better tasks and pay for themselves,” one woman said at the Prestea site.
Another shared, “There’s no rest. After working at the site, I still have to take care of the house. It’s double the work, but no one sees it.”
“Some of the girls stop school because they can make fast money here. But that money doesn’t last,” a food vendor explained.
Poverty, Policy, and Profit
Professor Christopher Gordon, former Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana, doesn’t mince words: “We must recognize that climate change presents an opportunity for transformative change. Conversely, our current trajectory is alarming. The relentless pursuit of gold and other minerals is devastating our forest reserves, polluting our waterways, and threatening our very survival.”
“The 1.5-degree threshold is not just a number; it represents a catastrophic new reality. In Ghana, it means that by 2038, we’ll no longer be able to cultivate cocoa, our beloved cash crop. The consequences of idleness will be dire, and it’s imperative that we act now to protect our forests, our livelihoods, and our future.”
Ghana’s forests are on the brink of collapse, and the impact is disastrous. The landscape is now scarred by numerous excavations, pits, and murky brown water, leaving behind contamination that affects water, soil, and air, resulting in devastating land degradation.
Reclamation and Resistance
A flicker of hope emerged on April 3, 2025, when the Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah announced at a press conference, “Through sustained joint operations, seven of these reserves have now been reclaimed from armed artisanal miners.”
“However, these gangs have attempted to re-enter the forests, leading to violent confrontations with the Forestry Commission, including a near-fatal assault on one of our personnel,” he said.
As the minister’s words echoed across the nation, they sparked a sense of cautious optimism. Daryl Bosu, Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, an NGO working to protect the environment and help communities adapt to climate change, posed a critical question: “How will reclaimed forests be secured?”
“The reclamation of the seven forest reserves seems to be a charade. As soon as the dedicated task force departs, illegal miners sneak back in, rendering it a futile game of ‘cat and mouse,’” he said.
Moreover, recovering these forests will take time. Restoration can take anywhere from 5 to 15 years, considering the scale of destruction caused by mining. “Several factors determine how long it takes, and the timeline can vary significantly,” says Mr. Bosu.
The presence of residual dormant seeds can aid regrowth, but this process is time-consuming. Initially, the landscape may look barren, but nature slowly starts to reclaim it. “In the first 1-5 years, you’ll mainly see colonizer species like grasses and cover crops.”
Whereas these plants grow, they attract birds and rodents that bring in new seeds, gradually increasing biodiversity.
Meanwhile, if left alone, progress may be slow. “If the government intervenes with targeted efforts like soil improvement, leveling, and planting specific tree species, significant vegetation growth can occur within 5 years.”
While restoration efforts can yield promising results, it’s essential to understand their limitations. “Restored forests can never replicate the ecological functions and characteristics of primary forests,” he notes.
Legislation Fuels Destruction
Today, galamsey has pervaded every aspect of Ghana’s geography. Ironically, this scourge has been perpetuated by a legislative instrument, L.I. 2462, also known as the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations. Passed in 2022, this law grants the president discretionary power to approve mining activities in protected forest reserves, citing “national interest” as justification.
A Rocha Ghana remains steadfast in its call for the outright revocation of L.I. 2462. While plans are underway to amend certain sections of the law, requiring the president to obtain prior written consent from the minister responsible for lands and natural resources before approving mining in forest reserves, Daryl Bosu points out that the underlying legal framework still harbors irregularities that perpetuate the problem.
“President Mahama plans to amend the parent law, rendering LI 2462 obsolete. So, why amend it instead of repealing it outright?” Mr. Bosu asked.
As the nation held its breath on June 18, 2025, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences issued a resounding call to action, penning an open letter to the President and Parliament of Ghana. Titled “Stop Mining In Ghana’s Forest Reserves—Repeal L.I 2462 Now,” the letter opposed the decision to amend rather than revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I 2462).
The Academy’s President, Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi FGA, warned that L.I 2462 was a ticking time bomb, set to devastate Ghana’s protected reserves.
The letter stressed the consequences: destroyed ecosystems, polluted rivers, endangered wildlife, and harm to communities. “A forest reserve is not a mine-in-waiting,” it declared. “Forest reserves exist to protect biodiversity, ensure clean water, regulate climate, and preserve the balance of life.”
The academy argued the law was both unconstitutional and legally flawed, granting powers the minister and president did not lawfully possess.
Unified Voices for Change
Building on the momentum of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences’ open letter, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) added its voice to the growing chorus of concern on Thursday, June 19th, 2025, calling for decisive action against the plague of galamsey.
They demanded the government revoke L.I. 2462, end police complicity, and prosecute those involved. Convener Kenneth Ashigbey warned that inaction would threaten national security, saying, “If this government does not act decisively, no one is safe.”
On the other hand, David Nana Kudiewu-Miod, geological mining expert with licensed firm Mohammed Brothers in Tarkwa, stressed that decisive leadership is essential. “Ghana requires a serious and radical leader who will prioritize the nation’s interests, even if it means making tough decisions regarding friends and family members, and firmly say, ‘Enough, I’m putting a stop to this.’”
Grassroots Fightback
Beyond raising awareness, a growing movement is taking action to restore Ghana’s degraded landscapes. In the Northern Region, Alhassan Abubakari, Coordinator of GLFx Tamale, spearheads community-led restoration efforts that strengthen local women and communities to nurture sustainable shea seedlings.
“We empower farmers with cutting-edge agro-ecological practices that promote environmental conservation. Through our training, farmers gain valuable insights into proper farming techniques, the benefits of traditional and indigenous seeds, and the effective use of organic fertilizers, such as compost.”
“Additionally, they learn to harness the natural pest-control properties of neem leaves, reducing their reliance on chemical pesticides and fostering healthier, more resilient farms,” he said.
Furthermore, the Africa Afforestation Association (AAA) has launched “Operation Hope,” a bold reforestation campaign aimed at restoring 20,000 hectares of land damaged by galamsey in the Ashanti Region. The project aims to plant 1.5 million trees, reviving scarred landscapes.
Using innovative, water-saving technology like the Groasis Waterboxx, AAA is not only bringing trees back to wounded forests but also creating green jobs for women and youth in affected communities.
Similarly, the government of Ghana has introduced the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, a groundbreaking effort to plant 20 million trees and restore degraded landscapes, boosting Ghana’s climate resilience.
From seedlings to soil, these sustainable activities revitalize ecosystems and restore dignity to communities ravaged by galamsey, Ghana’s illegal gold mining.
*Afia Agyapomaa Ofosu is a science journalist with a focus on environmental and climate issues in the extractive industry.
