We Don’t Approve Galamsey in Forest Reserves – EPA Warns as Bosomtwe Protection Takes Centre Stage
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reiterated that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is not permitted in Ghana’s protected forest reserves, stressing that any proposed activity within such areas must first receive official approval based on its environmental impact.
Speaking on the issue via a zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show, EPA Assistant Programme Officer Emmanuel Bih said the agency oversees reserves including Beah, Songor and Bosomtwe, where any planned activity must be assessed to determine whether it is environmentally feasible and beneficial to surrounding communities.
“For now, I am not sure the galamsey activities at Bosomtwe came to our office for approval, considering their ecological purpose,” he noted.
Bih emphasized that protecting the Bosomtwe Reserve is a shared responsibility and should not be left to residents living around the area alone.
He further explained that while the EPA may permit certain forms of access to protected reserves, such approvals are limited to activities such as research, medicinal purposes, spiritual activities and tourism.
“The kind of encroachment we allow on reserves does not include galamsey,” he stressed.
His comments come amid growing concerns over the impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s water bodies, forests and ecologically sensitive areas, with environmental advocates calling for stricter enforcement of conservation laws
By Maurice Otoo
