Emelia Arthur: Cape Three Points Forest Reserve needs national park status to curb galamsey

Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has called for the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve to be upgraded into a national park with a permanent security presence to curb illegal mining and protect the country’s Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Speaking during the Ministry’s Mid-Year Media Engagement in Accra on Wednesday, July 22, the Minister said illegal mining activities within the forest reserve pose a serious threat to the ecological integrity of the Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area.

According to her, streams originating from the forest reserve eventually flow into the sea, meaning pollution from illegal mining could undermine conservation efforts in the marine ecosystem.

“When the issue first came to our attention, we engaged the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat(NAIMOS) immediately moved in and dismantled the illegal mining operation,” she said.

However, she noted that the illegal miners later returned, allegedly operating at night to evade detection.

“Since the matter came to our attention again about three days ago, I raised it with the Minister and other relevant agencies, and action has once again been taken,” she added.

Arthur stressed that repeated enforcement actions alone would not provide a lasting solution.

“We cannot continue to have knee-jerk reactions. We need a permanent solution,” she said.

The Minister disclosed that the Ministry, together with local conservation organisations, is recommending that the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve be converted into a national park with a permanent presence of Wildlife Division and Forest Services Division personnel to prevent illegal miners from gaining access to the area.

She said discussions have already begun with the Executive Director of the Forestry Commission on the proposal.

Ms Arthur warned that unless illegal mining is permanently halted in the forest reserve, efforts to protect the Marine Protected Area would be undermined.

“If the destruction does not stop, all our efforts at protecting the Marine Protected Area will be useless,” she said.

The Minister made the remarks during the Ministry’s Mid-Year Media Engagement, held under the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Fisheries Sector for Sustainability, Jobs and Blue Economy Growth.”

About Cape Three Point  MPA

The Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area (MPA) is one of Ghana’s designated marine conservation areas, established to protect the country’s rich marine biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.

Located off Cape Three Points in the Western Region—Ghana’s southernmost point—the MPA covers coastal waters that support important fish species, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, coral communities, and other marine life. It also provides livelihoods for fishing communities through sustainable fisheries management.

The MPA is part of Ghana’s efforts to implement the National Blue Economy Strategy and meet international commitments to conserve marine ecosystems.

The Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area was officially launched in 2025 as Ghana’s first marine protected area, covering approximately 700 square kilometres of coastal and offshore waters in the Western Region. It was established to conserve biodiversity while supporting sustainable fisheries and the blue economy.