Also known as: Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah · Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah · Mr. Buah · Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah · Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah · Mr. Armah Buah · Mr. Armah Kofi Buah · Mr Armah Buah · Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah · Minister Kofi Buah · Dr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources addressing mining regulation, forest protection, and environmental enforcement across Ghana.
… morning in July, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources stood before a room of journalists and delivered a sentence that, just a year ago, seemed impossible: “The government’s priority is to protect the Achimota Forest.” With those eleven words, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah …
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has announced that Cabinet has directed the immediate revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. …
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has praised the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) for its outstanding performance in strengthening customary land administration, boosting revenue mobilisation and promoting accountability in …
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, says the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) has secured approval to implement several development projects across mining communities in 2026 as part of efforts to ensure residents benefit directly from Ghana’s miner …
… Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said both local and foreign mining companies seeking concession renewals will be required to meet higher standards of compliance before ap …
A delegation from the Western Nzema (Jomoro) Traditional Council, led by Paramount Chief Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III, has paid a courtesy call on Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah. …
… Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, dismissed suggestions of a broader move towards nationalisation as debate over mining lease renewals continues. …
Ghana’s renewed canopy of forest management is actively safeguarding nature and preserving generational legacy, according to Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah. …
By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has announced that Ghana has emerged as a continental leader in forest governance, becoming the first country in Africa to issue a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) li …
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Environment on September 3, has called for balance between Ghana's development ambitions and environmental protection, saying science, technology, and innovation must not be pursued at the expense of the environment. She stressed that protecting Ghana's environment is a constitutional responsibility shared by both government and citizens.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Environment on September 3, has called for balance between Ghana's development ambitions and environmental protection, saying science, technology, and innovation must not be pursued at the expense of the environment. She stressed that protecting Ghana's environment is a constitutional responsibility shared by both government and citizens.
Ghana's Minerals Commission has demarcated 13 blocked-out areas across the country for allocation to Ghanaians interested in small-scale mining, aiming to provide legal concessions and curb illegal mining activities that threaten the environment.
The Adamus Resources dispute reflects broader regulatory and environmental challenges in Ghana's mining sector. The Lands and Natural Resources Minister reported 8,900 hectares of forest reserves completely degraded, 258 arrests, and 200 excavators seized, while government proposes reducing large-scale mining lease duration from 30 to 20 years and strengthening mining communities' voice in licensing.
The Ministry of Finance and four other institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the sale of 30 per cent of gold output from large-scale mining companies under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP), which seeks to increase Ghana's international reserves to the equivalent of 15 months of import cover by 2028.
The government has upheld the revocation of Adamus Resources Limited's mining leases and directed the Minerals Commission to take immediate administrative control of the mine to restore operations, ensure workers are paid, and address safety violations identified by the Minerals Commission.
Environment Minister Emmanuel Armah Buah paid tribute to late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed at a memorial ceremony, crediting him with spearheading the repeal of Legislative Instrument 2462, which had allowed mining in forest reserves. Armah Buah said the repeal has strengthened forest protection efforts and that "our forests are breathing again because of Honourable Murtala."
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources stated that the government will invite strategic investors to restore the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) to its former glory and drive industrialisation, denying that the administration intends to auction or privatise the company.
The government has announced six new regulations to facilitate implementation of the Environmental Protection Authority Act 2025, covering Environmental Assessment, Effluent Management, Air Quality, Ozone Protection, Petroleum Operations, and Certification of Air Conditioners. The EPA is training staff and stakeholders, and plans to recruit additional personnel and establish new district offices to strengthen environmental enforcement.
The Ghana Institute of Foresters has welcomed the government's decision to restore the Achimota Forest Reserve to its full protected status after it had been partially declassified in 2022. The reversal, announced in July 2026, nullified the removal of approximately 361.5 acres from the southern portion of the reserve and was praised as supporting sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Government and the World Gold Council have signed a strategic partnership to formalize artisanal and small-scale gold mining, improve supply chain integrity and reduce illicit gold flows. The WGC is providing an initial $250,000 development grant to support cooperative registration and establish a network of responsible gold processing plants.
Ghana's government revoked Executive Instrument 144, which had excised approximately 361.5 acres from Achimota Forest Reserve, restoring the land to forest status. The author argues that while policy has secured the forest's protection, cultural and behavioural change among Ghanaians is essential to ensure its long-term survival.
Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources announced that Cabinet has directed the revocation of Executive Instrument 144 to restore Achimota Forest's original status as a Forest Reserve, protecting it as an ecological safety zone for Accra and surrounding communities.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources praised the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for strengthening customary land administration, boosting revenue collection, and promoting accountability in managing stool land resources across the country.
Ghana's Minerals Development Fund has secured approval to implement development projects across mining communities in 2026, including water supply systems and solar-powered infrastructure, as part of efforts to ensure residents benefit from the country's mineral resources.
The Dwatoahene of Akim Pankese has warned that intensified illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the Birim North District are destroying farmlands, degrading the environment, and putting school children, farmers, and residents at risk, including operations near a school and electricity infrastructure.
Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources said the government will subject mining concession renewals to stricter scrutiny, requiring companies to meet higher standards of compliance with environmental, regulatory and community development obligations before approvals are granted.
A delegation of Western Nzema traditional leaders, led by Paramount Chief Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III, met with Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah to discuss development issues in the Jomoro Municipality and to support the government's efforts against illegal mining and environmental degradation.
Ghana's Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah told investors at WAMPEX 2026 that the country remains committed to a stable, transparent mining environment and dismissed suggestions of broader nationalisation moves. He stressed that evolving expectations from communities, investors and global markets require adaptation guided by environmental, social and governance standards.
At the UN Forum on Forests in New York, Ghana's Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah touted the country's commitment to global forest goals and said the government is turning commitments into concrete actions on three key goals for environmental protection. He noted that Ghana issued its first FLEGT license in August 2025.
Ghana's Minister of Lands and Natural Resources announced that Ghana has become the first African country to issue a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license, placing it second globally after Indonesia. The achievement, secured in August 2025, enables Ghana to export legally verified and sustainably sourced timber to the European market while the government pursues forest restoration and enforcement against illegal logging and mining.
The 6th Ghana Minister of the Year Awards will be held at La Palm Beach Convention Centre in Accra on June 6, 2026, recognizing Ministers of State for measurable delivery in their portfolios. Six contenders have emerged following public nominations and performance assessments.
Ghana's government has revoked the Akango, Salman and Nkroful mining leases held by Adamus Resources Limited following investigations that revealed illegal mining activities, regulatory breaches, unlawful subcontracting without ministerial approval, and environmental damage including land destruction and water pollution.
Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources revoked the mining leases of Adamus Resources Limited after investigations found multiple breaches of mining laws, including unauthorized sub-contracting, operations without approved plans or permits, and illegal galamsey activities involving foreign nationals on concessions at Akango, Salman, and Nkroful.