News
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
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
