John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced a bold initiative to ban mining activities in forest reserves.
This announcement was made during his engagement with journalists in Accra on Sunday.
Mahama said this was a significant step towards preserving Ghana’s rich biodiversity and combating the adverse effects of deforestation and habitat loss.
Forest reserves in Ghana are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered. Mining activities in these areas pose a serious threat to these ecosystems. The proposed ban aims to protect these vital habitats and promote sustainable practices in the mining sector.
Mr Mahama indicated that “We will ban mining in forest reserves.”
The former President also made it clear that his administration will not tolerate any involvement of public officers engaged in small-scale mining.
Mahama strongly suggested that those officers who wish to engage in such activities should choose between that sector and serving in his administration.
“We won’t countenance public officers engaged in small-scale mining,” he declared.