A Rocha Ghana has commended the government’s intervention against illegal mining (galamsey) in the Atewa Forest Reserve through Operation Green Shield, while calling for sustained enforcement to protect the forest.
In a Facebook post on Friday(30 October), the environmental organisation said the operation, involving the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), marked a significant step towards addressing illegal mining in the forest.
A Rocha Ghana said comments by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and NAIMOS Director of Operations and Commander, Colonel K. S. Appiah, indicated that the enforcement effort must be sustained until the forest is secured.
The organisation, which had been campaigning for decisive government action through its #AtewaForestCountdown initiative, said the success of the operation would depend on whether illegal miners were kept out of the forest and degraded areas restored.
It called for sustained enforcement, adequate resources for officers deployed to the frontline and accelerated efforts to designate Atewa Forest as a national park.
A Rocha Ghana said the commencement of the operation was an important step but stressed that long-term protection of the forest would require continued action.
The organisation also linked the protection of Atewa Forest to the safeguarding of water resources and the country’s environmental future.
The Atewa Range Forest Reserve is internationally recognised as one of West Africa’s highest-priority ecosystems, owing to its rich biodiversity, high levels of endemism and critical hydrological importance.
Established as a National Forest Reserve in 1926, Atewa was designated a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994 and a Hill Sanctuary in 1995. In 1999, it was listed among Ghana’s 30 Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs).
The forest is the source of three major rivers—the Ayensu, Densu and Birim—which provide water to an estimated five million Ghanaians, making Atewa a critical water resource for the region.
However, the forest has faced persistent threats, particularly illegal chainsaw logging since the 1990s. The situation has worsened over the years, prompting the deployment of security personnel to help protect the reserve.
The growing degradation has raised concerns among residents and environmental advocates about the long-term impact on livelihoods, biodiversity and water security.
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
# Make a Atewa a National Park
