Ghana’s government reversed what many environmentalists had called one of the most damaging pieces of legislation in the country’s history. The repeal of regulations that allowed mining inside forest reserves marked a rare victory for conservation, driven not by courts or corporations, but by sustained public pressure.
The now-scrapped law, passed in 2022, had opened nearly 90 percent of Ghana’s forest reserves to mining activity, including areas of global ecological importance. These forests, spanning more than nine million hectares, play a critical role in water security, climate regulation and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Law That Triggered an Unprecedented Backlash
Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer and among the world’s top contributors to mining-related deforestation. Even before the 2022 regulations, illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, was the country’s leading cause of forest loss. The new law worsened the crisis by accelerating mining permits and emboldening both legal and illegal operators.
What followed was an unprecedented assault on forest reserves, particularly during a global gold price surge. Investigations revealed that companies with political connections moved swiftly into protected areas, transforming once-secure forests into extraction zones.
The response was equally extraordinary. Civil society groups, faith institutions, trade unions, environmental organisations and ordinary citizens came together in a nationwide campaign. Protests, petitions, strikes and even prayer walks filled the streets of Accra. The message was simple but powerful: Ghana’s forests are worth more than gold.
Elections Turn Conservation Into a Political Mandate
The movement gained momentum when environmental protection became a key issue in the 2024 general election. The opposition, sensing the scale of public anger, pledged to revoke the mining regulations if elected. When the new government came to power, it followed through, repealing the law by the end of 2025.
It was the shortest time between the passage and repeal of a major environmental law in Ghana’s history. For many campaigners, it was proof that sustained civic action can override powerful commercial interests.
The decision also protected critical water sources. Almost all of Ghana’s water treatment facilities rely on rivers originating in forest reserves, making their preservation essential not just for biodiversity, but for national public health.
Beyond Repeal, the Bigger Battle Remains
While banning mining in forest reserves is a watershed moment, environmental advocates warn it is only the first step. Mining continues to devastate landscapes outside protected forests, often leaving communities with polluted rivers, destroyed farmland and few economic benefits.
Civil society groups are now calling for a comprehensive forest protection strategy that includes restoring degraded areas and enforcing sustainable forest management. There is also growing pressure on the government’s newly created Gold Board to introduce a transparent traceability system, ensuring that Ghana’s gold exports are legal, accountable and environmentally responsible.
Last year ended with renewed hope that Ghana’s forests could be saved from irreversible damage. The challenge for 2026 is to turn that victory into lasting reform one that ensures natural wealth benefits the nation as a whole, not just a privileged few.