The Electricity Company of Ghana has issued a warning against planting trees under low voltage lines as a precaution to prevent future electricity supply disruptions as Ghanaians celebrate Green Ghana Day with tree-planting activities.
The Western Regional Manager of the ECG, Engineer Emmanuel Justice Ofori while leading staff of ECG to sensitize and plant trees at the All Saint Anglican School in Takoradi said the ECG is targeting to plant 5,000 trees in the region.
He added that the public must, however, be cautious not to plant trees under the Low Voltage lines as the grown trees may disrupt the power supply when it comes in contact with the lines.
“We are advising those planting trees that we should go about planting the trees but we should be careful not to plant them directly under the lines especially the LV lines (Low Voltage lines).”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, has urged all Ghanaians and residents to actively participate in the national tree-planting exercise.
The event forms a vital component of an ambitious afforestation and reforestation agenda aimed at restoring the country’s depleted forest cover.
During the inaugural edition, the target was set at planting five million trees. However, the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants surpassed expectations, resulting in the planting of over seven million trees.
Building on this success, last year’s Green Ghana Day witnessed an even greater achievement, with over 26 million trees planted, surpassing the intended goal of 20 million.
This year, the nation aspires to plant an additional 10 million seedlings throughout the country, while nurturing the over 30 million trees planted in 2021 and 2022.
Deputy Minister in charge of Mines Hon. George Mireku Duker, has assured the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that it will collaborate with the Security authorities to ensure that culprits behind the attack at the Benso Mine of Golden Star Wassa Limited are brought to book.
The Deputy Minister also gave the assurance that government will play a frontal role in strengthening the broken relationship between the company and the community.
He added that the Ministry has decided to assume these responsibilities as it recognized its key position as a facilitator of the operations of licensed mining companies in the country.
Speaking during a working visit to the company on Friday, 14 April 2023, Hon. Mireku Duker relayed the messages of sympathy and commiserations from the substantive Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor to the victims, management, and staff of the company.
Whiles condemning in no certain terms, the actions of the misguided youth, Hon. Mireku Duker said the government has already taken measures to avoid a recurrence of the same.
“On behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, we convey our heartfelt empathy to the workers, management, and board of this company. The act was uncalled for and I believe that incident must not in any way be encouraged. We are here to comfort the management and workers of this company”, he stated.
“Know that once you have your requisite license, government will always create the enabling environment for you to work. Other issues that called for this will be addressed in due time but we want to comfort you and indicate to you that the government is solidly behind you”, he added.
“We will assist in making sure that the perpetrators are brought to book and I’m happy that the law enforcement agencies are dealing with this”, he said.
The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah urged the company to improve its relationship with the community.
While assuring them of his readiness to contribute to the process, the Western Regional Minister said the company must take the initiative to address the concerns of the community.
He also condemned the incident and promised that efforts must be made to avoid the destruction of properties and lives.
Mr. Owusu Achiaw, the Senior Manager of the Processing Department of the company recounted the events of the day and counted the losses of the company.
He described as welcoming the visit of Hon. Mireku Duker and the Regional Minister, noting that it is a firm indicative of the government’s interest in their operations.
After a tour of the site, Hon. Mireku Duker expressed delight with the renovations works ongoing and commended the company for restoring their operations in a relatively short period after the incident.
The Ashanti Region Seedling Contractors Association has urged the government to pay the roughly GH2.3 billion it owes its members for the provision of seedlings for the tree planting activity during the celebrations of Green Ghana Dayfor 2021 and 2022.
According to the association, several engagements with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission for the government to pay them have been unsuccessful despite the many assurances.
The members of the Association say they are currently frustrated as they are constantly being harassed by banks they secured loans from to procure the seedlings.
Speaking to Citi News, the Secretary of the Ashanti Region Seedlings Contractors Association, Gloria Amponsah called onPresident Akufo-Addo to intervene in ensuring that they are paid to lessen their burden.
“The situation is really hurting us. A lot of people are in trouble and the law courts are attacking them. We have gone to the Forestry Commission several times to no avail, sometimes we even sleep there but all the promises have not come true.
“When we go there, they treat us like we are not humans, they don’t feel for us, As I stand here I have five children, I went in for a loan but when we go there they treat us like we are not part of Ghana. And so we call on Akufo-Addo, please come to our aid.”
“The information gathered is that there was an accident between Apagwa and Suhum area and the road was actually blocked so it had to reroute through Kyebi. So, we are hoping that it should be here shortly,” he said.
Speaking to JoyNews at the Agric Ministry where the exercise was held, a civil servant who works at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said: “To me, it’s a good initiative but since I heard it was a pilot, we are expecting that the next bunch that will come, the price will really go down a bit. Last week I bought one bunch for 15 in the market. It was reasonable, looking at the size. So I can’t see any big difference between what is here and what is in the market.”
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stated that a statement by the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor about the role of the Ghana Armed Forces in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) has been misreported by a section of the media.
In a statement dated Friday, October 14, 2022, the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ministry said the the statement made by the minister at a press conference on Thursday had been misconstrued in some media reports.
“The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to publications in a section of the media to the effect that the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. These publications attribute this comment to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, during his Press Update on the fight against illegal mining at the Ministry of Information on Thursday, 13th October, 2022.
“While the Ministry welcomes and commends the Ghanaian media for their interest and enthusiasm in matters involving illegal mining, for the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did NOT say the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. What the Minister said was to the effect that the military has been put fully in charge of the operations on the ground. Accordingly, they are to carry out their mission without interference from any person whatsoever. They are to take instructions only from the military high command on matters relating to the ongoing operations, and in accordance with their established command and control structures,” the ministry said.
“The above comments have, obviously, been misunderstood by a section of the media,” the statement added.
We will fish out, prosecute galamsey kingpins – Abu Jinapor
The ministry emphasised its confidence in the Ghana Armed Forces in leading the fight against Galamsey, saying it has “has absolute confidence in the professionalism, Capability and integrity of the Ghana Armed Forces to accomplish this mission.”
At the press conference on Thursday, the land’s minister outlined various measures by the government to deal with the canker of illegal mining.
Mr Jinapor told the press that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo remains resolute in the fight against galamsey, which is threatening several of Ghana’s water and river bodies.
The envoy’s visit was to formally invite the Minister to a forum on cocoa slated for Monday, October 3, 2022, as well as to discuss issues of relevance to both nations.
The Dutch ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul on Friday, September 30, 2022, led a delegation from the Dutch Embassy to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The visit by the envoy and his entourage were to formally invite the Minister to a cocoa forum scheduled for Monday, 3 October 2022, and to discuss matters of mutual interest to both countries.
In his opening remarks, Jeroen Verheul indicated that his major focus is strengthening the economic and diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Netherlands.
He disclosed that the growth of the Ghanaian agriculture sector is of key interest to the Dutch government. The cocoa industry is at the heart of their plans for Ghana and they desire to see the development of the sector.
Jeroen Verhel stated further that his outfit recognizes the importantrole the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources plays in the agriculture sector of Ghana and deems it necessary to solicit the Ministry’s support and opinion on their plans, strategies, and programs for the Agriculture sector.
On his part, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, acknowledged the effort of the Netherlands in the preservation and protection of Ghana’s forest cover and wildlife conservation.
Jinapor thanked the Netherlands for their long-standing friendship and collaboration and called for stronger and enhanced economic ties between both countries.
According to him, the decision which includes ‘Operation Halt II’ is unlikely to produce any profitable outcome.
In an interview with Don Kwabena Prah on Happy98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show, Mr. Peprah reiterated that the government’s approach to using brute force has never served any party right.
In his view, digging out and having a comprehensive understanding of the root problems of ‘galamsey mining is the way forward rather than brute force.
“The decision from the ministry I would say it would not yield any results not withstanding everything said. We have said that using the military approach will not solve this problem.
“The government thinks it’s always best to use brute force because they think people involved in small scale mining are recalcitrant. Until we understand the root problem of galamsey, we can never solve this,” he told Don Kwabena Prah.
He further alleged that Chinese nationals have flooded the various sites with heavy machinery engaging in illegal mining. Therefore, dragging them out of hidden tunnels and prosecuting them would be the right step in the fight against galamsey.
“In 2012, Former President Atta-Mills together with John Mahama took a decision against mining. The current government need to finger out what happened both the positives and negatives. At that time the Galamsey threats reduced totally. That was the time the Chinese were being deported.
“All these things that have led to us and Ghanaians talking about this is because everywhere our waters have been destroyed because of mining there are Chinese working. Ghanaians are fearful in nature and even as a result have redrawn their equipments because of the Minister’s statements.
“The problem is with the Chinese and it’s almost as if our politicians are afraid if them when we mention their names,” he added.
Mr. Peprah’s comments come after the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor together with stakeholders reviewed some steps and strategies that have been implemented so far in the fight against the menace in a meeting on Friday.
The aftermath of the meeting outlined new measures including, red zoning river bodies and forest reserves, ‘Operation Halt II’ to ramp up support for the various measures being implemented to clamp down on illegal mining among several others.
An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Gabriel Gyamerah Sarpong, a staff of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to 15 months imprisonment over fraud.
Sarpong had collected over GH¢200,000 from illegal miners to be given to Mr George Mireku Duker, deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Appearing in court last Friday, Sarpong pleaded guilty to defrauding by false pretences.
The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah convicted Sarpong on his own plea.
Sarpong however denied the charge of falsely pretending to be a public officer.
The court therefore adjourned the matter to October 12 and ordered the prosecution to file its disclosures in respect of the charge of falsely pretending to be a public officer.
Mr Muda Ade Lawal, defence counsel in praying for a non-custodial sentence, said Sarpong was a good citizen and IT specialist until the devil pushed him to the vice.
“If given custodial sentence he will be mixed with hardened criminals and will come out worse,” counsel submitted.
According to counsel, the convict was sober and he has regretted his actions hence his admission of guilt.
“Tamper justice with mercy to hand him non-custodial sentence,” he prayed the court.
Defence counsel opined that the convict had a wife and two children and if given custodial sentence, his wife and children would suffer.
Assistance Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evans Kesse told the court that the complainant was George Mireku-Duker, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
He said sometime in December 2021, the convict contacted a witness in the case to meet so they could talk about a business deal.
The prosecution said the following week, the witness met the convict and told him that the business was about mining and since the witness had been to various mining sites in the country, he could best execute the task.
He said same month, the convict called the witness on phone and told him that the Deputy Minister had authorized that the witness could mobilise his men to operate as such.
The prosecution said the convict then gave a fake MTN number as the Deputy Minister’s contact number, through which he could call when he needed him.
The witness then mobilised his men and went to Obuasi, met the police and called the MTN number accused gave to him as the Deputy Minister’s number.
Prosecution said the convict, who responded as the said Deputy Minister, told the Obuasi Divisional Commander to offer the team any assistance it needed.
The prosecutor said the witness after their operations realised over GH¢200,000 and sent same to the convict who had impersonated the Deputy Minister.
ASP Kesse said the witness after operating at Obuasi decided to proceed to Manso Nkwanta for another operation and met the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), where the witness told the MCE about his mission there and tried reaching out to the Deputy Minister on the MTN number given to him by the convict but there was no response.
The Manso Nkwanta MCE then alerted the witness that it would be in his own interest to come down to Accra to meet with the Deputy Minister and verify if the Deputy Minister had really sanctioned their task.
On September 13,2022, the witness met with the Deputy Minister and disclosed that he had been working at the mining sites on his authorization.
The prosecution said the Deputy Minister denied knowledge of it and sent for the convict whom after questioning was handed over to the police.
The convict in his investigation caution statement admitted to the offence and indicated that he used part of the money he received from the witness to purchase a black Elantra saloon vehicle and invested part of it into his building located at Amasaman.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, MrSamuel Abu Jinapor, on Friday, September 16, 2022, presided over a meeting of the Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Illegal Mining, to review various strategies and measures to combat illegal small-scale mining.
At the meeting, it became clear that much progress had been made in the fight against the illegal mining operation, despite the stubbornness of some of the individuals involved.
The Committee praised those who came forward with information on illegal mining to help combat the threat, but claimed that the same people later posted old videos of the activities online to stoke public discontent.
According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Lands Ministry, after an extensive review of the operations, the stakeholders agreed that the river bodies and forest reserves should continue to be red zones.
It was stated that no mining operations should be allowed near or within any river body in the nation and that exploration, prospecting, and/or reconnaissance should still be prohibited within forest reserves, save in exceptional cases.
Operation Halt II would ramp up its support for the various measures being implemented to clamp down on illegal mining.
The statement also said enforcement efforts would be pursued relentlessly without regard to any political, social, or economic standing of the people involved.
“This will be done transparently and with the highest standards of integrity, candour, and utmost good faith.”
It also said any equipment used in connection with illegal mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey,’ or any product derived from illegal mining operations, would be seized and handed over to the police, in accordance with section 99 (8) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The statement said, that for any reason that particular equipment could not be moved from its location, it would be demobilized and/or decommissioned to prevent it from being used for illegal operations.
“The Ghana Police Service will work closely with Operation Halt II to gather relevant information to aid in the prosecution of people involved in illegal mining.”
It noted that the Committee would meet regularly to review the measures being implemented
and adopt additional ones where necessary.
Therefore, the Ministry appealed to the public, in particular the media, chiefs, and residents of the host villages, to support the government and security forces in their efforts to combat the threat and preserve the environment for future generations.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, September 15, 2022 a total of 164 suspected illegal foreign miners were arrested by a military anti- galamsey task force, Operation Halt II, at Anyinam and Mampong in the Eastern Region.
By that declaration, a ban has been placed on the hunting, capture and destruction of wildlife species.
The four-month ban was announced by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, last Friday in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 685).
L.I. 685 states: “During this period, the hunting, capturing or destroying of any wildlife species is absolutely prohibited. The only animal that could be hunted during closed season is the grasscutter, but with a valid license issued by the Wildlife Division. Any person who contravenes any provision of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine”.
Mr Owusu-Bio said the institutionalisation of the closed season was one of the measures meant to protect wildlife species.
He observed that the closed season provided the necessary conditions for animals to procreate, nurse and nurture their young ones for replenishment.
The deputy minister said wildlife provided enormous benefits such as ecotourism, research, medicine and environmental protection, for which reason, they must be preserved.
Enforcement
To ensure compliance with the closed season, Mr Owusu-Bio directed the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission to ensure that rangers and forest guards intensified their monitoring activities in forest and off-reserve areas across the country.
He also called for urgent steps to curb the increasing cases of poaching and destruction of wildlife species in the 21 protected areas across the country.
“Indiscriminate hunting, bushfires, unregulated farming and poaching, if not checked, will bring some of the wild animal species under serious threat of extinction,” he said.
The deputy minister said as part of measures to sustainably manage and utilise wildlife resources, the Wildlife Bill had been put before Parliament for consideration to be passed into law to provide the legal framework to support effective management of wildlife.
The Executive Director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Bernard Asamoah-Boateng, said his outfit would take the necessary steps to enforce the ban on hunting to give the wild animals some respite during breeding.
He said through the vigilance of the division, 144 illegal hunters, popularly called poachers, were arrested for flouting the closed season directive last year.
He said 57 of those cases had been successfully prosecuted, with the rest at various stages of prosecution.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said 33 Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) covering 784,999 hectares of land had been created in 78 communities across the country to support the division to protect wildlife.
He urged hunters and dealers in wildlife enterprises to be circumspect in carrying out their trade by adhering to the law and obtaining the needed permits during the closed season.
He also called on chiefs, security agencies and non-governmental organisations in the environmental conservation space to help in enforcing compliance during the closed season.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has urged the general public to treat as false and mischief the social media circulation suggesting that the Lands Commission has released 614.629 acres of Achimota forest land to one Charles Owusu.
The Ministry in a statement on Monday said the document purporting to suggest that the Lands Commission has released portions of the Achimota forest lands does not relate to the said area.
“The said assertion or allegation is false…The Ministry calls on the general public to disregard these allegations as they are palpably false,†the statement read.
The Ministry explained that the said land is rather a 0.22 acre land at Adenta and is less than half of an acre.
The statement further noted that the first recital of the lease in the document establishes the root of title of the area in question and does not relate to 614.629 acres of Achimota forest land.
“The said lease in circulation, dated 15th April 2021 and stamped as LVDGAST198264852021, is a subject matter of a 0.22 of an acre of land or one residential plot at Adenta. The said plot is less than half of an acre.
“The first recital as captured in paragraph 1 of the lease establishes the Root of Title of the area in question and does not release 614.629 acres as is being alleged. This is the source of misconception and or mischief as the case may be,†the Ministry explained in the statement.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has directed the Lands and Forestry Commissions to declare as void the ownership of lands at the Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site allegedly owned by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.
The directive comes after the ministry commenced investigations into the alleged ownership of lands by the recent former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission popularly known as Sir John.
On Monday, the Fourth Estate reported that some portions of land at the Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site had been willed to relatives of the late Sir John.
 Portions of the purported Will of Sir John read: “I give my land also situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited and measuring 0.987acres to my nephews Michael Owusu, Yaw Boadu and Kwabena Amoateng forever.â€
 “I give my land situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Jakaypro Limited and measuring 5.541 acres to the following persons forever.
Yaw Amoateng Afriyie              -One (1) acre
— Eva Akua Afriyie                  One (1) acre
Ivy Akua Afriyie                   One (1) acre
Elizabeth Asare Boateng (aka Mother) Â Â One (1) acre
Michael Owusu                     1.541 acres
 But preliminary investigations conducted by the Lands Ministry indicate that there is no record of ownership of both lands in question at the Lands and Forestry Commissions.
 In a press statement dated May 24, the Ministry also revealed that the Will is a subject matter of litigation in the court.
 The Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has therefore urged the Commissions to take the appropriate actions.
 Meanwhile, Mr Jinapor has assured that beneficiaries listed in the Will of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, will not obtain the Achimota Forest and Ramsar site lands.
 “For the avoidance of doubt, the bequeathing of the aforesaid lands, if established, will not pass any interest/title to the named beneficiaries in the alleged Will.â€
“Government will act on any improper acquisition of any Public Lands, regardless of how it was procured, whether now or in the past, and the Achimota Forest Lands will not be an exception,†the statement added.
 According to the minister, the Achimota Forest lands in question will remain “public lands†in spite of falling within the de-gazetted lands pursuant to E.I 144.
