‘Keep your promise of banning all forms of mining in forest reserves’ – Jinapor tells Lands Minister-designate

Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has urged the John Mahama government to honor its campaign promise to ban all mining in forest reserves.

Speaking during the vetting of Lands Minister-designate Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah on January 27, 2024, Jinapor emphasized that many Ghanaians voted for Mahama based on this pledge.

While in office, Jinapor defended large-scale mining operations like Newmont and AngloGold, stating that a blanket ban was impractical due to their economic contributions.

However, Mahama had pledged to ban mining in forest reserves, citing the importance of the ancient trees over the minerals beneath them.

Kofi-Buah, while acknowledging the issue, stated he would assess the situation before making decisions.