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we are coming after you…Lands and Natural Resources Minister declares war on illegal mining
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Armah Kofi Buah has declared war on illegal mining.
According to him, they are not going to spare anybody who mines in forest reserves and water bodies.
In a renewed effort to combat illicit mining, the minister during a working visit to the Offin-Shelterbelt Forest Reserve within the Nkawie Forest District in the Ashanti Region, declared war on illegal miners.
He declared that no one, regardless of political party, will be spared if they choose to mine in these forbidden areas.
Speaking to the media, he said, “This is why we breathe, this is where we get everything that keeps us alive as human beings, so when you see this devastation, at the heart of the Offin River which takes its source from here. what few of our own people are doing to us is, they have come to kill us at where it matters most.”
In strong warning, he said, “My message to our young people who want to do mining is that there is a pathway for doing the right mining, but we are not going to spare anybody who ventures to do illegal mining in our forest reserves.”
He revealed that “in the coming weeks you will see steps being taken by the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology to parliament to repeal Act 2463 taking away even the power of the president to grant anybody licence to mine in forest reserves.”
“My message today having reclaimed this shelterbelt on the Offin is to all of the thugs that are in all the other 43 forest reserves, we are coming for you, we are coming after you, the chain of people who are involved, the investigations have commenced,” he added.
The minister concluded that all those who would be found culpable will face the law.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Parliament of Ghana has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The bill was passed after it was read for the third time on the floor of Parliament.
The legislation seeks to criminalise activities related to LGBTQ practices in Ghana.
However, lawmakers introduced amendments to exempt some professionals from punishment under the law.
The exemptions cover legal practitioners, media professionals and health workers who provide services to persons identified as LGBTQ.
During proceedings in Parliament, the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Bernard Ahiafor who was in the chair
announced that the bill had been duly read for the third time and passed.
Supporters of the bill say it is intended to promote what they describe as Ghanaian family values and cultural norms.
The proposed law has generated public debate both within Ghana and internationally, with some groups supporting it while others have raised concerns about human rights and freedoms.
The bill is expected to go through the necessary constitutional processes before it can take effect as law after the President’s assent.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says the shift system in public schools is not a national policy and has largely been phased out across the country.
Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament today, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the shift system was introduced as a temporary measure to address overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure in some schools.
According to him, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) are continuing efforts to eliminate the system completely through the construction of additional classroom blocks at the basic school level.
He stated that government remains committed to improving teaching and learning conditions in schools across the country.
The Education Minister disclosed that government has allocated GH¢230 million in the 2025 GETFund distribution formula for the procurement of school furniture for both basic and Senior High Schools nationwide.
According to him, the investment forms part of measures to ensure that students have access to a better learning environment.
Mr. Iddrisu further highlighted the importance of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy, which was introduced in 1996 to provide every Ghanaian child with free and compulsory basic education.
He said the policy continues to play a major role in reducing illiteracy and promoting equal access to quality education across the country.
The Minister addressed concerns raised by the University Teachers Association of Ghana over issues in the tertiary education sector.
According to him, the Ministry of Education, through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, has taken the necessary steps to maintain industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
He assured Parliament that government would continue to engage stakeholders in the education sector to ensure stability and improved educational outcomes.
By: Jacob Aggrey
