By: CNBC Africa

Ghana has officially banned all mining activities within its forest reserves, reversing a 2022 regulation that had permitted controlled mining in these protected areas. The move is part of a broader environmental protection strategy aimed at halting deforestation, safeguarding water sources, and preserving farmland in the world's second-largest cocoa producer.

The West African nation, which is also Africa's top gold producer, has been grappling with widespread illegal and small-scale mining. This activity has severely degraded forests, polluted rivers, and encroached on cocoa farms and industrial mining concessions across 13 of its 16 regions. Major mining companies, including Gold Fields and AngloGold Ashanti, have reported frequent incursions by illegal operators, prompting increased investment in security and surveillance.

Acting Environment Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized that healthy forests and clean rivers are vital for community livelihoods and the nation's future. Environmental advocates welcomed the repeal as a crucial policy shift, noting that it restores protections for nearly 90% of Ghana's forest reserves. However, they also cautioned that the ban must be accompanied by strong enforcement, restoration programs, and solutions to address underlying drivers of encroachment, such as logging and subsistence farming.