The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor David Asamoah, has called for stronger national collaboration to tackle illegal mining in Ghana’s forest reserves and water bodies.

He said the environmental, ecological and livelihood benefits derived from forests “should not be sacrificed for the private interests of a few,” adding: “It is in our own survival interest to protect our forests and trees from illegal and destructive activities.”

Professor Asamoah was speaking at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF), held under the theme “Foresters at the Forefront of Change: Tackling Mining Challenges and Advancing Forest Restoration.”

He said Ghana’s 288 permanent forest reserves are critical to climate regulation, foreign exchange earnings, job creation and community livelihoods.

Despite ongoing interventions by government and civil society, he noted that illegal mining continues to degrade forests and pollute rivers. “The increasing incidences of illegal mining in our forest reserves are causing devastating destruction,” he said.

Erastus Asare Donkor, Assisting News Editor at Multimedia Group, called for a restructuring of the Forestry Commission to equip it with stronger enforcement authority, adequate resources and logistics.

He also urged the use of digital monitoring systems capable of tracking excavator operations nationwide. “The technology exists, and we can implement it,” he said.

Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, outlined measures including providing alternative livelihoods for miners, training operational staff in tactical response and forming rapid-intervention teams to support field enforcement.

National President of GIF, Dr. Abukari Nantogmah Attah, said the meeting marked a moment of reflection on the country’s forest protection efforts.

He stressed the national value of forests and warned that protected sites such as the Achimota Forest must remain untouched. “Achimota Forest cannot and must not be touched,” he said.