On March 7, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to ending mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves, hence announced plans to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2003 (Act 703) to permanently outlaw such operations.
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This assurance was made while speaking on the progress of his administration’s first 120 days in office.
However, documents available to Awake News appear to show the President’s appointees in charge of the mining sector are doing otherwise by granting permits to companies to mine in the forest reserves, namely, OFFIN
SHELTERBELT FOREST RESERVE, JIMIRA FOREST RESERVE, KAGYEASI FOREST RESERVE, and BOSUMKESE FOREST RESERVE.
Speaking to the Forestry Commission CEO, Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, on the issue, he denied any wrongdoing saying those applications were already done last year through other appropriate agencies before finally getting to him.
The Forestry Commission does not issue mining licenses or leases, these are issued by the Minister in consultation with the Minerals Commission. When Leases are issued and after the EPA grants an environmental permit, Water Resources Commission grants water use permit and Minerals Commission grants mining operating permit, then the Forestry Commission comes in to grant entry permit. – Dr. Brown told Awake News
A source within the Forestry Commission registry who spoke to Awake News on condition of anonymity said those requests for the Forestry Entry Permits came to the attention of Dr. Brown’s predecessor, but he refused to grant them.
The processes started last year through the Ministry [Lands and Natural Resources], and the then CEO realizing it was wrong hence refused to execute it. Why did he [Dr. Brown]?
For our source, her primary concern was the fact that why entry permits are being issued when the law that allowed the same has been amended, arguing the act is an indictment of President Mahama and the sector minister.
Why issue mining entry permits when the LI 2462 has been amended. This is an indictment to the president and gross disrespect and undermining of the sector Minister – our Forestry Commission source said.
Why if he [Dr. Brown] denies the entry permit, will that not have stopped them from mining in the forest reserve? – she quizzes in dismay
THE ENTRY PERMITS
1. GBF Associates Ghana Forestry Entry Permit
In a letter dated May 16, 2024 which was later corrected to May 16, 2025 with reference number CE’s Ref. No. FC/A/62/SF.1/V.21/44 directed to the Acting Executive Director of the Forest Services Division, Dr. Hugh Brown, gave a year Entry Permit to GBF Associates Ghana Ltd to “undertake exploration (pre-mining) operations in their mining Lease Area [49.77 sq km] within the Bosumkesc Forest Reserve in the Bechem Forest District” of the Asutifi North District, Ahafo Region.
The permit said “We refer to the Mining Lease granted to Messrs. GBF Associates Ghana Limited by the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, dated 30th May 2024 and the company’s subsequent request dated 7th March, 2025”
It is worth noting that the GBF Associate request per the permit was made on March 7, 2025 – the same day President Mahama announced his commitment to ending mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves.
Also, the company was first granted an entry permit on October 21, 2020, which expired on October 31, 2023. However, the lease Agreement between the company and the Government of Ghana, signed by the then Minister Samuel A. Jinapor, was dated May 30, 2024.
2. FJ Minerals Limited Forestry Entry Permit
In a letter dated June 11, 2024 which was later corrected to June 11, 2025 with reference number E’s Ref. No. FC/A.62/SF.1/V.21/46 directed to the Acting Executive Director of the Forest Services Division, Dr. Hugh Brown gave a year Entry Permit to FJ Minerals Ltd to “undertake gold mining operations in their mining Lease Area [391.13 hectare] within the Jimira Forest Reserve in the Nkawie Forest District” of the Ashanti Region.
The permit said “We refer to the above quoted correspondences and the Mining Lease granted to Messrs. FJ Minerals Limited by the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, dated 21 st June, 2023, and the company’s subsequent request dated 24th March, 2025“.
Again, the permit was made on March 24, 2025 – weeks after President Mahama announced his commitment to ending mining activities in forest reserves.
The FJ’s mining license issued by the Minerals Commission:
It has been revealed that the two mining permits were issued to FJ Minerals on March 24, 2025 – the same day the Forestry Entry Permit request was submitted by the company. Also, the Mining Operating Permits were issued specifically for activities at Tetekaso Aboabo and Gyemere, all in the Atwima Mponua District and not the Nkawie Forest District of the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality.
EPA and Water Resource Commission permits:
A copy of the EPA (4th September 2024 to 3rd March 2026) and Water Use (March 1, 2025 to February 29, 2028) permits alleged to have been used by FJ Mineral as the basis for the Forestry Entry Permit appears to have been issued for mining activities in the “Gyemera Extension Forest Reserve in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region“ and not for mining activities in the Nkawie Forest District of the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the same region.
The Mining Lease
It is also appearing that the Mining Lease Agreement between the FJ Minerals and the Government of Ghana, signed by the then Minister Samuel A. Jinapor was dated June 21, 2023 covering 39.06 SQ.KM was for a concession at Tetekaso Aboabo in the Atwima Mponua District
3. AMBY Limited Forestry Entry Permit
Again, in a letter dated May 16, 2024 with reference number Ref. No. FC/A.62/SF.1/V.21/43 directed to the Acting Executive Director of the Forest Services Division, Dr. Hugh Brown, gave a year Entry Permit to AMBY Ltd to “undertake exploration (pre-mining) operations in their mining Lease Area within the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Nkawie Forest District” of the Ashanti Region.
The permit said “We refer to the Mining Lease granted to Messrs. Amtby Limited by the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, dated 31st May, 2024, and the company’s subsequent request dated 18th March, 2025”.
Again, the permit was made on March 18, 2025 – weeks after President Mahama announced his commitment to ending mining activities in forest reserves.
In the case of AMBY, no EPA or Water Use permits were obtained as the basis for granting the Forestry Entry permit, as Dr. Brown said ought to be the primary documents leading to granting the Forestry Entry Permit.
The Mining Lease
It is also appearing that the Mining Lease Agreement between AMBY Ltd and the Government of Ghana, signed by the then Minister Samuel A. Jinapor, was dated May 31, 2024 covering 48.88 SQ.KM was for a concession at Ofin in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region.
4. Gateway Exploration Limited Forestry Entry Permit
Again, in a letter dated May 16, 2025 with reference number Ref. No. FC/A.62/SF.1/V.21/42 directed to the Acting Executive Director of the Forest Services Division, Dr. Hugh Brown gave a year Entry Permit to Gateway Exploration Limited to “undertake exploration (pre-mining) operations in their mining Lease Area within the Kagyeasi Forest Reserve in the Kade Forest District” in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
The permit said “We refer to the Mining Lease granted Messrs. Gateway Exploration Limited by the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, dated 29th November, 2024, and the company’s subsequent request dated
6th May, 2025”.
Again, the permit was made on March 6, 2025 – a day before President Mahama announced his commitment to ending mining activities in forest reserves.
EPA permits:
An EPA permit (2nd May 2025 to 1st May 2027) signed by the Acting Executive Director, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse on May 2, 2025.
The Mining Lease
It is also appearing that the Mining Lease Agreement between the Gateway Exploration Ltd and the Government of Ghana, signed by the then Minister Samuel A. Jinapor was dated November 29, 2024 covering 33.37 SQ.KM was for a concession at Ofin in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region.
