President John Dramani Mahama has announced a sweeping directive prohibiting all government officials from participating in mining activities of any kind, whether legal or illegal, with immediate effect.
“I have directed that no government appointee at any level should engage in any form of legal or illegal mining. If you want to be a miner, leave the government and go and be a miner,” he declared.
During the launch of the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality on Friday, Mahama emphasized that any government official intending to engage in mining must first resign from their position.
“This directive is clear — if you are a government official and you want to mine, you must step down from your role. We cannot allow personal interests to compromise our commitment to protecting the environment,” Mahama stated firmly.
The announcement forms part of President Mahama’s broader environmental agenda aimed at preserving Ghana’s natural resources.
In addition to restricting government officials from mining, his administration plans to revoke existing mining leases within forest reserves and impose a moratorium on issuing new permits in these protected areas.
“Farmers are losing their farmlands, rivers are turning brown and toxic with pollution, and entire communities are being affected,” he stated.
Mahama stressed that safeguarding the nation’s environment requires decisive action, particularly against practices that contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.
The Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, launched on the same day, aims to restore degraded lands and promote sustainable forestry practices.
