Ghana's Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has raised concerns that the country's forest reserves, including the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, are under threat from illegal mining activities. He warned that if not brought under control, Ghana could lose some of its most important forest reserves. Mr. Afenyo Markin made these remarks during a meeting with the Christian Council of Ghana on October 5, as part of consultations on major national issues confronting the country.
The Minority Leader pointed to the warnings from organised labour and religious organisations about the scale of illegal mining in Ghana. He noted that organised labour had publicly expressed concern that illegal mining had become increasingly uncontrollable. According to Mr. Afenyo Markin, the position taken by organised labour was particularly significant because the institution operates independently of partisan politics and undertakes its own assessments before making public pronouncements.
Religious organisations have also raised similar concerns through their own reports, making it necessary for the government and other stakeholders to treat the situation as an urgent national problem. Mr. Afenyo Markin questioned the operational structure of the Ghana Gold Board, arguing that its current arrangements could inadvertently create opportunities for illegally mined gold to enter the legitimate gold purchasing system.
The Minority Leader expressed concerns about the regulatory safeguards in place to enable gold aggregators to distinguish between gold obtained through lawful mining operations and gold produced through illegal mining. He warned that a purchasing framework that does not adequately separate legally produced gold from gold associated with illegal mining could weaken efforts to combat the menace.
In September 2022, the Forestry Commission arrested 12 people suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities within the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, highlighting the continuing pressure on the environmentally sensitive area. Mr. Afenyo Markin further warned that the consequences for Ghana's water resources could eventually become extremely expensive and difficult to reverse.
Drawing from his previous experience as chairman of the Ghana Water Company Limited board, Mr. Afenyo Markin said reports concerning the increasing contamination of Ghana's water bodies should alarm policymakers and the wider public. He explained that water treatment was becoming more expensive because of the level of pollution entering the country's water sources and warned that some treatment facilities could eventually become incapable of operating effectively if the contamination continued.
The Atewa Forest is an area requiring particular attention, with continued illegal mining potentially permanently destroying the reserve. Mr. Afenyo Markin's warnings come as the country grapples with the challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection. The issue of illegal mining remains a pressing concern for Ghana, with significant implications for the country's natural environment and water security.
Key points
- The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has warned that Ghana could lose some of its most important forest reserves, including the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, if illegal mining is not brought under immediate control.
- Organised labour and religious organisations have raised concerns about the scale of illegal mining in Ghana, with the Minority Leader calling for urgent action to address the issue.
- The consequences of inaction could be severe, with potential long-term damage to Ghana's water resources and environment.
