Gwira Banso, Western Region 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, following the repeal of regulations that permitted mining in forest reserves under certain conditions.
In the petition, the association — representing concerned residents of Gwira Banso and surrounding communities in the Nzema East Municipality — called on government to state whether the company holds any valid authorisation to undertake mining operations within the reserve.
The youth are also seeking clarification on whether any transitional arrangements, existing mining leases, prospecting licences or special government approvals could permit mining in the reserve following the repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).
According to GYDA, residents have observed the movement of heavy equipment, security personnel and individuals allegedly connected to mining activities in the area, raising concerns about the legal basis for the proposed operations.
The association further questioned whether Betterland Mining Company had undergone the required environmental, technical and financial assessments to demonstrate its capacity to operate in compliance with Ghanaian law.
Beyond the legal questions, the group expressed deep worry about the potential environmental impact of mining on the Draw River Forest Reserve, which it described as the only forest reserve serving the area.
It cited risks including deforestation, water pollution and biodiversity loss, adding that the majority of residents in the affected communities opposed mining within the reserve.
Background:
The Draw River Forest Reserve is classified as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), home to rare, threatened and endemic species. The controversy comes after years of debate over L.I. 2462, which previously allowed mining in forest reserves with presidential approval. The law has since been repealed by the Mahama administration, which has announced plans to ban mining leases in forest reserves and revoke existing licences.
Betterland Ghana Limited has previously maintained that it is only undertaking expanded exploration and not commercial mining, and that its activities are supervised by officials of the Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and the Minerals Commission.
The youth group is urging the Presidency to provide urgent clarity to prevent tension and protect the forest reserve for future generations.
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