The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has strongly criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s claim that Ghana has recovered 721,000 hectares of forest since 2017 during the UNFCCC COP 29 in Baku.

In a scathing news release, the coalition questioned the President’s assertions, claiming that they were at odds with the local ecological realities.
Although the coalition acknowledged the necessity of restoring the forest, it called the President’s remarks “pretentious” and charged that his government was not doing enough to safeguard Ghana’s forests from the twin threats of illicit mining and unsustainable policies.

The statement said, “The truth is that we actively pursued policies that enabled the destruction of natural forests while we were purportedly planting trees.”
The group criticized the government for violating its international obligations, including its membership in the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, citing the 2022 enactment of Regulation L.I. 2462, which allowed mining in protected forests.

The group stressed, “These actions highlight the government’s complicity in the unprecedented destruction of forest reserves and contradict Ghana’s hard-earned reputation for sustainable forest management.”
The coalition refuted the President’s restoration promises with grim data.
4,800 hectares of gazetted forest reserves have already been destroyed, out of the 48,000 hectares designated for mining.
“The ecological integrity of 350,000 hectares of forests has been compromised by illegal mining activities that have affected over 35 forest reserves,” they explained.
The Ghana Cocoa Board reports that galamsey has caused enormous losses on cocoa farmlands, demonstrating the terrible effects of illicit mining that go beyond forests.
“An estimated 21,000 hectares of cocoa farms were destroyed in just one year, affecting 68% of cocoa farmlands in Ashanti, 81% in Eastern, and 74% in Western Regions,” the coalition stated.
Criticizing the President’s legacy, the coalition accused him of overseeing one of the biggest ecological catastrophes in Ghana’s history and called his term an era of “environmental neglect.”
“You are responsible for the ruined farmlands, destroyed forests, and poisoned rivers in Ghana. “Your inaction has increased our susceptibility to climate shocks and put citizens at serious health risk,” the statement urged.

The coalition urged the President to act decisively and asked him to consider the legacy he will leave behind.
Will you be known, Mr. President, as the man who watched helplessly as Ghana’s natural resources were carelessly looted? Or will you find the strength to confront this serious injustice?” they inquired.

Unfulfilled Promises: Ghana’s Environmental Commitments Are Overshadowed by the Galamsey Crisis
In a harsh evaluation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s handling of illicit mining, known locally as galamsey, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey accused his administration of making empty promises and failing to take meaningful action.

The coalition emphasized in their news release the inconsistency between the President’s promises and the deteriorating environmental situation under his direction.
The group asked, “Mr. President, what happened to the promises you made to the people of Ghana—the failed assurances to Organized Labor, the botched fight against Galamsey, and the broken commitments to citizens?”

The president’s commitment to use military force to defend rivers was cited in the statement as an example of a promise that has not been kept.
The coalition questioned the President’s remarks at COP 29 as being out of touch with reality, asking, “Where are the updates, and what tangible results can you show Ghanaians?”
They contended that illegal mining had escalated to previously unheard-of levels under the President’s direction, destroying not only forest reserves but also agricultural land and waterways.
Galamsey has devastated more than 68% of the cocoa farmlands in strategic areas. Rivers are contaminated, leaving entire villages without access to clean water,” the coalition disclosed.
The coalition also accused the administration of stifling criticism and impeding regional initiatives to stop careless mining.

They pointed out that the administration has consistently failed to address abuse and impunity, and that citizens and CSOs should be commended for their constant vigilance.
The coalition stated that the President’s legacy is at risk and warned of the long-term consequences of inactivity. “Every disease, every death, and every community ravaged by galamsey will permanently mark your tenure,” they warned.

The coalition pushed the president to change the narrative as his term draws to a close.
“Time is running out. They concluded, “Will you step up to the challenge or leave a legacy of irreparable harm to Ghana’s natural heritage?”