How Galamsey is affecting Ghana’s Proforestation

Folks, I have decided to discuss an important issue that you are already aware of, which is gradually affecting the country in every aspect of its survival. The issue of galamsey (illegal mining) has been a national discussion for many years and continues to garner the attention it deserves. As a country, there are so many factors that are hindering us from combating the issue of climate change, and one of the prime factors is galamsey. In this piece, I talk about how the activities of galamsey are affecting Ghana’s proforestation.

Ghana, like many other countries in Africa, is endowed with many natural and mineral resources. These resources, one would think, should be of benefit to its citizens and help alleviate the economic quagmire the country is entangled with. Sadly, that is not the case. In spite of all these natural resources, Africa remains one of the poorest continents on earth. As the erudite Kenyan Professor Ali Mazrui put it in one of his six paradoxes of Africa, “Africa is the richest continent in the world yet the poorest.” Why are we poor?

This is not my first time writing about this delicate issue that is affecting our country and the future of the next generation. But it seems the more I write about it, the worse it gets. We are not oblivious about the devasting effect that these activities of illegal miners pose to the country yet those who are supposed to act responsibly have sat aloof and are doing little or nothing about it.

About two years ago, I wrote on this issue and discussed how it has become an albatross around our neck as a country and the devastating consequences we face. In a subsequent article, I discussed how we can rethink our approach in dealing with this canker. And other similar campaigns I have waged on this subject. I discussed how this issue has affected our water bodies, our health and the environment.

Many years ago, in upper primary and in Junior High, we learned about some terminology about forestry. We learned about afforestation, deforestation and reforestation. We learned that afforestation is the process of planting trees where there have not been any for a long period of time. We also learned that reforestation, which is similar to afforestation, is the process of restoring a previous forest. Then we learned about the killer term, deforestation, which basically means the felling of trees without planting or replanting them. We discussed the benefits and dangers accompanying these activities.

Not until recently did I have the opportunity to participate in a Climate Activist Program (CAP) organised by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in Tamale in the northern region of Ghana. This program was an eye-opening experience for me in so many aspects, and one of them was hearing the word ‘proforestation’ for the first time and how strong it is to mitigate against the issue of climate change. Right there, my mental lexicon had increased by another incredible word.

What then is proforestation and the role it plays in the conversation of climate change? According to William Moomaw and Susan Masinoin 2019, proforestation refers to “the practice of leaving existing forests to grow unbothered until they reach their full ecological potential.” In contrast to afforestation and reforestation, which entail planting new trees, proforestation supports older forests because of their current state.

According to research, forests annually remove about 30% of human-generated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. We must plant trees as one avenue in tackling the issue of climate change, but how many of the trees we plant can survive their early stage? If the success rate of tree planting is not encouraging, why are we then degrading the reserved forest for galamsey?

Also, research shows that older trees are able to sequester more carbon than the young ones. It will take so many years for the trees we plant to develop into their full potential of properly sequestering carbon that exists in the atmosphere. We cannot trade the future for the current pleasures of the heart. There should be conscientious and deliberate efforts to make sure that our forest reserves are no-go areas for these nation wreckers (illegal miners). Recently, the country was fighting about a controversial Legislative Instrument (L1 2462), which gave permission for people to mine in the country’s forest reserves. On paper, it was supposed to be regulated, and due process followed, but we know the greedy nature of our people. Thankfully, this disastrous L.I. 2462 was revoked in 2025. You can imagine the number of trees we lost before this L. I. was revoked.

Why do we allow people to mine in areas that have been reserved to serve many purposes? Is it because of their insatiable appetite for greed? Why do we sacrifice our lives and the lives of the next generations on the altar of selfishness? We have to be concerned as citizens and demand for accountability from those who power and authority has been entrusted in their care. We have already seen some of the mayhem that these galamsey activities have begun to have on the country.

The data from the Ghana Forestry Commission concerning galamsey in the country’s forest reserve is devastating and troubling. In a recent scientific study by the commission in February this year, it revealed that a whopping 8,923.8 hectares of the country's forest reserves, equivalent to 12,500 FIFA standard football fields, have been heavily impacted by illegal mining activities. This is really a worrying situation. We are not doing well as a country when it comes to tree planting, and we are also destroying the ones that have been in place for a very long time. Even if we plant, how many years will it take for it to grow to assist in the sequestering of carbon in the system? The report revealed that the affected areas included 45 forest reserves and a national park as of December 31, 2024.

Clearly, we see that galamsey is really affecting the proforestation of Ghana. These miners are not environmentally conscious and therefore do mine with the greatest impunity they have. They are not just mining illegally in our water bodies; they have transcended into the forest. I have always asked if our forebearers had thought solely about themselves, would we have inherited these resources we have today?

In the regional breakdown of the report by the Forestry Commission of Ghana, it revealed that the Ashanti Region was the hardest hit, with a total of 4,948.9 hectares across 13 forest reserves destroyed through galamsey. Western North and Western Region follow with 2,195.7 hectares in 12 forest reserves decimated by galamsey and 1,301.5 hectares in 11 forest reserves, respectively. Upper East, Bono, Eastern, Central and the Savana Regions follow in that order of regions impacted by activities of illegal miners in our forest reserve.

Climate change has become an existential threat to humans in all spheres of their lives, and it is important that as a country we put in measures that can help solve the issue and not continue to have the devastating effects we are experiencing. We can only do so if we have leaders who love our country and our environment. The lip service by these people has not helped and will not help if we continue on the same trajectory. Our desire to get money should not create issues for us, as after acquiring the money, we may not have the strength and health to deal with it.

This piece is once again an awakening call on all stakeholders and actors who have a role to play in order to make sure that we tackle it heads on without beating about the bush. As the piece has shown evidence and data of the issue, this is not an illusory piece but a reality we have to deal with. If we fail to protect our forest, especially those that have been marked as reserves, then we have no future as a country. As the saying goes, when the last tree dies, the last man will die. Our lives essentially depend on this, and as such, there should not be any compromise to it. It is good to mine, but we must do so judiciously without affecting the very nature of our existence.

Author: Sampson Boamah (boamah.sampson34@gmail.com)

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