Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah Reverses Achimota Forest Declassification as Ghana Strengthens Climate Governance

The Ghanaian government has signaled a robust return to environmental conservation and climate resilience under the administration of President John Mahama. On July 16, 2026, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, announced the formal reversal of the declassification of the Achimota Forest, a move that restores protected status to 361.5 acres of the reserve. This decision nullifies a 2022 policy enacted by the former Akufo-Addo administration and has been hailed by the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) as a bold and timely intervention. The Institute emphasized that the forest plays a critical role in urban flood mitigation and biodiversity conservation, urging the government to extend similar protections to other vital urban forests across the country.

Complementing this policy shift, grassroots and private sector efforts are intensifying to safeguard the nation's green cover and educate the youth. On July 24, 2026, the Eco-Africa Network, in partnership with StarLife Assurance Ghana, will host a tree-planting initiative at Achimota Senior High School in Accra. The event aims to plant 300 tree seedlings to enhance environmental sustainability and raise climate awareness among students. This collaboration highlights the importance of partnerships between civil society and the private sector in addressing climate change, seeking to inspire students to serve as environmental ambassadors within their communities.

The focus on environmental governance extends significantly into regional development strategies, particularly in the northern belt. In the Upper West Region, Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing recently identified climate change as one of the preeminent development challenges of the current generation. During a stakeholder engagement in Wa, he emphasized that climate considerations must be integrated into all aspects of regional planning, from infrastructure to agriculture. To support this, the administration is moving to establish dedicated Climate Change Units across Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen local government capabilities in managing climate impacts and securing necessary funding.

To ensure these initiatives are sustainable, the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, led by Seidu Issifu, is working to bridge institutional gaps and coordinate climate finance effectively. Officials including Frank Aggrey and Nii Laryea Adjei have stressed the need for investment-ready proposals to access global climate funds. By embedding Climate Change and Sustainability Hubs within local assemblies, the Mahama administration aims to make climate resilience a core pillar of Ghana's national development agenda, ensuring that local authorities are equipped to build community resilience against the escalating threats of the climate crisis.