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‘No forest in Ghana is protected from mining’ – Expert traces audacity to mine at Kakum to controversial L.I
The Executive Director of the Nature and Development Foundation says he is not surprised at a company’s decision to seek permission for mining license for the Kakum National Park in the Central Region.
Dr. Mustapha Seidu highlighted that the floodgates for the depletion of the country’s forest reserves were opened with the enactment of Legal Instrument (L.I)2462, specifically the ‘Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations,’ passed in November 2022.
Since the passage of the ‘Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations’ [LI 2462] numerous mining permits have been granted to various companies, prompting concern from many civil society organizations.
Kakum National Park is one of approximately 14 reserves for which mining applications have been submitted to the Minerals Commission.
The recent application by the High Street Company has stirred public outcry regarding the future of the forest, which has long served as a national asset.
The Minerals Commission, in a subsequent communique, confirmed the rejection of the application.
“The Commission wishes to inform the CSOs and the public that the application of High Street Mining Company Limited was rejected and therefore cannot be processed or considered whatsoever. Consequently, the Commission has deleted the application from the online mining cadastre.”
But in an interview on JoyNews‘ News Desk, Dr. Mustapha Seidu remarked that such incidents may recur if the regulations governing mining in Ghana’s forests remain unchanged.
“The audacity to even think about applying for a mining lease in the Kakum National Park is worrying. It just tells you that no forest reserve in this country is protected from mining. Every forest reserve is a candidate mining site,” Dr Seidu explained on Monday, November 13.
At a stakeholder engagement on the new Regulation on Mining in Ghana’s Forest Reserve last week, some CSOs warned that failure to scrap this Legislative Instrument (LI 2462) will cause more destruction of forests.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
