Youth Petitions Gov’t over Proposed Mining in Forest Reserve

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The Gwira Youth Development Association (GYDA) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to clarify the legal status of proposed mining activities by Betterland Mining Company in the Draw River Forest Reserve.

Representing concerned residents of Gwira Banso and surrounding communities in the Nzema East Municipality, the association expressed deep worry over heavy equipment movements and unauthorized personnel within the protected area.

This request follows the official repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462), which previously allowed mineral extraction in forest reserves under specific statutory conditions.

“We are calling on the government to state whether Betterland Mining Company holds any valid authorization to undertake mining activities within the Draw River Forest Reserve following the repeal of L.I. 2462. Residents have observed heavy equipment and security personnel in the area, raising serious concerns about the legal basis of these operations and the safety of citizens. We demand a full, independent investigation into the recent deaths in our communities to ensure complete accountability regardless of political or social standing.”

Expanding on their appeal, GYDA called upon the executive arm of government to state whether Betterland Mining Company holds any valid mining leases, prospecting licences, or special authorisations to operate within the reserve.

The association emphasized that community members need full clarity on whether any transitional arrangements or grandfathered approvals permit mining following the repeal of L.I. 2462.

Furthermore, the petition asks whether the company has undergone the required environmental, technical, and financial assessments to prove its capacity to operate in compliance with Ghanaian law, especially amidst rising local safety concerns and operational ambiguity.

The necessity for this civic petition arises from the critical need to safeguard the Draw River Forest Reserve, which serves as the only forest reserve sustaining the surrounding rural communities.

Most residents strongly oppose mining in the reserve due to severe environmental threats, including widespread deforestation, river pollution, and catastrophic biodiversity loss.

 For agrarian populations depending on natural water bodies and fertile farmland, unmonitored mining poses an existential threat to local livelihoods and agricultural sustainability.

Beyond environmental hazards, the initiative was spurred by escalating civil tension and violent threats against community members speaking out against mining activities.

GYDA highlighted the tragic deaths of 13-year-old Pius Nkansa at Adelekezo on December 13, 2025, and Angwah Mensah at Abganzie on May 24, 2026, both of which residents link to disputes surrounding alluvial mining.

The petition urges the government to protect residents from intimidation, harassment, and violence, while demanding full, independent, and transparent investigations to establish accountability for these deaths regardless of political affiliation or social status.

The regulatory uncertainty in the Nzema East Municipality highlights broader governance challenges within Ghana’s extractive industry following the revocation of L.I. 2462.

While the repeal of the regulations aimed to reinforce forest preservation nationwide, the lack of immediate public disclosure regarding pre-existing mining rights creates friction between local communities, state regulators, and mining firms.

GYDA stresses that transparent regulatory auditing is essential to determine whether any operational claims inside protected forest reserves carry genuine legal standing under current environmental laws.

The petition signed on behalf of GYDA by Isaac Wandah Kwofie, Dennis Kwame Miezah, and Isaac Yeboah was copied to several government institutions, security agencies, mining regulators, environmental bodies, parliamentary committees, and traditional authorities.

By distributing the document widely, the youth association aims to mobilize inter-agency collaboration to ensure that mining laws are strictly enforced and that local grievances are addressed systematically through official state channels.

Ultimately, GYDA is seeking a clear public statement from the President on whether Betterland Mining Company’s proposed activities align with the government’s overall policy on forest protection and the repeal of L.I. 2462. The association maintains that permitting ambiguous mining operations in protected enclaves damages public trust in national resource governance.

Reaffirming their dedication to environmental stewardship, GYDA leaders emphasized that they remain fully committed to defending Ghana’s forests, river systems, and natural heritage against unauthorized exploitation.

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