By: Ivy Abena Dede Narki Teye
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, together with relevant stakeholders has commenced its National Landscape Forum today, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Accra Marriott Hotel.
Under the theme: “Natural Resources Management and Forest Economy for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth,” the three-day dialogue, which runs from April 2nd to 4th, has brought together industry players from the civil society, private sector, international organizations and government to discuss pragmatic measures in managing the country’s natural wealth for sustainable development.
Addressing the gathering in his welcome speech, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi constituency, Hon. Sulemana Yusif, emphasized the numerous benefits a country stands to gain by undertaking sustainable natural resource management.
He, however, highlighted some threats facing Ghana’s forests, minerals, and water bodies, including deforestation, degradation, pollution, and climate change.
The Ministry therefore outlined a five-pronged strategy to combat these crises:
• Reforming the small-scale mining licensing regime, decentralizing the process to enhance transparency.
• Strengthening law enforcement – working with the Military, we’ve reclaimed seven of nine forest reserves seized by illegal miners. From February to March 2025 alone, we confiscated over a 100 excavators and other mining equipment, and have arrested over 70 offenders.
• Enhancing stakeholder engagement, collaborating with communities, traditional leaders, and civil society to foster collective ownership of this fight.
• Providing alternative livelihoods to affected communities, ensuring economic resilience beyond mining.
• Reclaiming and reforesting degraded lands, restoring what has been lost. ecosystems.
Hon. Sulemana Yusif also mentioned the Ministry’s initiatives, such as the Blue Water Initiative and Tree for Life, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Ghana’s natural resources.
Meanwhile, the Program Lead at the World Bank Ghana Office, Madam Naila Ahmed, stressed the importance of integrating landscape management into Ghana’s strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth. She noted that 35-40% of jobs in Ghana rely on agriculture, which is threatened by the destruction of natural resources.
The Ghana National Landscape Forum marks a crucial step towards sustainable natural resource management in Ghana. It is expected that the Ministry’s strategies to combat the aforementioned crises will help ensure responsible mining practices, prevent illegal activities, and provide alternative livelihoods to support affected mining communities.