Vice President of the Republic, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has openly praised the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for what she described as firm and purposeful leadership in Ghana’s ongoing fight against illegal mining.
The Vice President gave the commendation during a working visit to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, where she met with the Minister, chief directors, heads of agencies and senior management staff.
According to Professor Opoku-Agyemang, the Ministry’s aggressive stance against environmental degradation—particularly illegal mining—reflects a clear commitment to protecting Ghana’s future. She acknowledged that the scale of destruction caused by galamsey has been enormous, but stressed that recent reclamation and enforcement efforts demonstrate that the government is determined to reverse the damage.
She noted that under Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah’s stewardship, the Ministry has moved beyond rhetoric to concrete action, reclaiming degraded lands and strengthening institutional coordination to curb further destruction. “This is not an easy fight, but it is one we must win,” she said, emphasizing that environmental protection is directly linked to national survival.
The Vice President described the Ministry as a frontline institution in safeguarding Ghana’s natural heritage and commended its resolve to confront vested interests undermining the country’s lands, forests and water bodies. She urged staff to remain focused and resilient, assuring them of full support from the highest levels of government.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also highlighted land administration reforms and digitisation as complementary tools in the fight against illegal mining, noting that transparent and efficient land systems reduce abuse and improve accountability.
In his presentation, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah outlined progress made across the mining, forestry and lands sectors, stressing that sustainable natural resource management remains a core priority of the current administration. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection, particularly in communities affected by illegal mining.
The Minister acknowledged ongoing challenges but maintained that decisive policy reforms, enforcement measures and inter-agency collaboration are steadily restoring confidence in the sector.
On behalf of the Ministry, Deputy Minister Hon. Sulemana Yusif thanked the Vice President for the visit, describing her commendation as a morale booster and a clear endorsement of the Ministry’s leadership in confronting illegal mining and safeguarding Ghana’s environment.
