A 100 percent Ghanaian-owned large-scale mining company’s plan to commence commercial operations in the Gwira Forest has been thrown into uncertainty following government’s decision to review the Minerals and Mining laws, particularly those governing mining in forest reserves.
The company, Betterland Ghana, had projected to begin full-scale mining in the first quarter of 2025 on a 62-square-kilometre concession acquired in the Gwira Banso Forest in the Western Region.
However, the government’s latest policy, which includes moves to declare forest reserves as security zones, effectively halts the company’s planned investment.This development could render the investments made by the shareholders of Betterland Ghana worthless.
Prior to the policy shift, Betterland Ghana had secured an entry permit from the Forestry Commission (FC) to undertake pre-mining activities in the forest.
In December 2024, the company held a media engagement to court public support.At that event, the Chief Executive Officer of Betterland Ghana, Isaac Osei, stated that the company had followed all legal procedures to acquire the concession.
“We have a full entry permit to undertake pre-mining activities. Forestry Commission took us through a rigorous process before eventually granting us the permit. FC will not issue a permit if our mining activities pose environmental risks,” he explained.
Osei stressed that the company is entirely Ghanaian-owned and called on the media to support its operations, while welcoming constructive criticism. He, however, declined to disclose the identities of the Ghanaian shareholders during a question-and-answer session.
“I can tell you Betterland is 100% owned by Ghanaian businessmen, and I am one of the shareholders,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the GwiraBanso concession is the company’s first mining project, adding that a strong team had been assembled to ensure the project’s success.
Project Manager of Betterland Ghana, David William Alan Thomas, assured that the company’s operations would combine both mining and reclamation activities to minimize environmental impact.
