Former Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor has made a startling revelation that all Ghana’s forest reserves have been invaded by galamseyers as of March 18, 2025.
“As of today, 18th March, 2025, all the country’s forest reserves have been invaded by galamseyers,” the Member of Parliament for Damongo stated.
Jinapor alleged that political activists and apparatchiks are behind the invasion, saying, “Political activists and apparatchiks think that their party has won power and are going round taking over these forests and mining.”
He emphasised that the issue of galamsey requires urgent attention, stating, “A lot needs to be done to deal with galamsey.”
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Jinapor said, “The submissions made by the Honorable Majority Leader, Mr. Speaker, in some respects do not contextualise the issue because the President has the right under the National Constitution, under the statute, to exercise a discretion for mining to take place in the Forest Reserves.”
He further stated, “As we speak today, as we speak today, the 18th of March, Tuesday, mining is happening almost in all the forest reserves of our country.”
He also referenced a report by the Coalition Against Galamsey, led by Ken Ashigbe, which highlighted the involvement of political party kingpins in taking over forest reserves for mining purposes.
Jinapor further expressed his concern about the situation, saying, “I’ve been Minister for Lands before. I made my modest attempt in contact with the fight against galamsey.”
He emphasised the need for honesty and urgency in addressing the issue of galamsey, stating, “Let us accept the truth. And let’s be honest about what is happening today.”
-BY Daniel Bampoe
