- hot-spots
- deforestation
- Ghana
- Deforestation in Ghana

Problems
How much deforestation in Ghana
Deforestation in Ghana is a serious environmental issue that threatens the country's biodiversity, climate, and livelihoods. According to Global Forest Watch, Ghana lost 118,000 hectares of natural forest in 2022, equivalent to 78 million tons of CO₂ emissions. This was a 60% increase from 2018, making Ghana the country with the highest relative increase in primary forest loss of all tropical countries. One of the main drivers of deforestation in Ghana is cocoa farming.
The main causes of deforestation
Cocoa farming A study by Tropenbos International, focusing on three Ghanaian Forest Reserves (FRs), found that agricultural encroachment — largely driven by cocoa — has increased almost ten-fold since 2010, causing the degradation of 30 to 60 percent of the forests in those reserves. Cocoa is posing more of a risk than ever to the forests of Ghana. The single most significant driver of deforestation in cocoa production is poverty. Cocoa farmers in West Africa receive a mere 6% of a chocolate bar's retail price. Cocoa has driven deforestation in nearly every country it produces, as rainforests are cut down to make way for cocoa monoculture. Mining While clearing for cocoa farming is a leading cause of deforestation, mining is the biggest threat. Illegal small-scale mining, known locally as “galamsey,” has caused massive environmental damage, which the government estimates would cost $29 billion to help restore. The main minerals mined in Ghana are gold, diamonds, bauxite, and manganese, but gold is the most dominant mineral commodity. The ownership structure of the mining industry is mixed, but foreign companies control an average of about 70% of shares in these mines. The dominant players are mainly junior companies from Canada, Australia, and South Africa, but there are also investments from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and China. While major foreign companies own most mines, prospecting is normally undertaken by junior companies, largely local, Canadian, and Australian. Mining is destructive to the environment because it requires clearing and burning trees and vegetation. Large-scale mining operations use bulldozers and excavators to extract metals and minerals from the soil. Mining also often establishes new infrastructure, facilitating new land access and further clearing.
Effects of deforestation in in Ghana
The depletion of forest cover is causing a rapid decline in the water levels of rivers and streams, resulting in the loss of various plant and animal species that rely on these habitats. Among the species affected are protected animals like the Red River hog, the roan antelope, the red Colobus monkey, and the black Colobus monkey, all associated with tropical rainforests. At the community level, the threat to ecological diversity has economic implications: increased mining operations in the region have contributed to the reduction or extinction of specific flora and fauna species that communities depend on. Many communities express concerns that mining activities have partly contributed to the scarcity of snails, mushrooms, medicinal plants, and other resources.
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4Timelines
2022
The National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), the state-owned company responsible for managing the government's emergency food security reserves, said "galamsey" activities had affected or destroyed more than 19,000 hectares (46,950 acres) of cocoa plantations (2% of orchards according to similar sources), leading to loss of income for farmers and less investment for the company and Ghana in general. Ghana has only 53.3% of its original natural forest left, extending over 13.9% of its land area. Deforestation continues to threaten the country’s biodiversity, climate and livelihoods.
2020
The Cocoa & Forests Initiative reported on the first two years of implementation. Cocoa and chocolate companies focused on teaching farmers to grow more cocoa on less land, planting forest trees, and mapping farms to understand better where their cocoa comes from.
2019
Another milestone was reached to strengthen transparency and accountability in the cocoa supply chain: the signatories released action plans that spell out concrete steps to end cocoa-related deforestation. The action plans focus on forest protection and restoration, sustainable cocoa production and Farmers’ livelihoods. Community engagement and social inclusion.
2017
UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and leading chocolate and cocoa companies signed the Cocoa & Forests Initiative Frameworks for Action.
2001
Ghana has 4.8% of its land area covered by primary forests, which are the most biodiverse and carbon-rich.
1999
Forest Plantation Development Fund was established to support the private sector with funding for commercial forest plantation investment.
1986
Ghana has 30.6% of its land area covered by natural forest, mainly in the Ashanti, Western and Brong Ahafo regions.