Vice President of the Republic, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, stressing that the sustainable management of Ghana’s lands and natural resources remains central to national development and survival.

She gave the assurance during a formal working visit to the Ministry on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, where she was warmly received by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, along with heads of agencies, directors, and senior management staff.

According to the Vice President, the visit was not merely ceremonial but a deliberate effort to engage directly with those driving the government’s environmental and natural resource agenda. “We are not somewhere far away, receiving reports written by faceless people,” she said, emphasising the importance of connecting names to faces and recognising the human effort behind policy implementation.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended the Ministry for its interventions, particularly in addressing land degradation and environmental destruction. She noted with concern the scale of damage caused by illegal mining, referencing reports indicating that the equivalent of thousands of football fields had been lost, but praised ongoing efforts to reclaim degraded lands.

She described environmental protection as more than a moral obligation, warning that Ghana’s very survival depends on responsible land and resource management. “Protecting the environment is protecting ourselves,” she stressed, urging staff to remain committed despite the challenges.

The Vice President also underscored the importance of digitisation in land administration, noting that improved records and systems would help resolve long-standing issues of access, ownership, and transparency. She highlighted land banks as a critical opportunity, particularly for women, many of whom are eager to farm but lack access to land.

“If we consciously reserve portions of land banks for women, they can bring their capabilities to bear on the economy,” she said, calling for deliberate inclusion in land policy planning.

Touching on governance, Professor Opoku-Agyemang praised the Ministry’s decentralisation efforts, describing them as essential for addressing challenges at the grassroots. She noted that effective service delivery must extend beyond Accra to the communities where most Ghanaians live.

She assured the Ministry of continuous support from the highest levels of government, encouraging staff to do more while reaffirming confidence in their work. “We have your back and we will support you every step of the way,” she stated.

Earlier, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the state of the lands, mining, and forestry sub-sectors, outlining key achievements, ongoing reforms, and projections for the year ahead.

He emphasised that the current administration places a strong premium on the sustainable management of Ghana’s lands and natural resources, describing the Ministry as a critical pillar of the country’s development architecture.

As custodians of lands, forests, minerals, wildlife, and related resources, he said the Ministry’s work directly affects economic growth, environmental sustainability, and food security. While highlighting significant progress made in collaboration with allied agencies, the Minister acknowledged persistent challenges that require sustained attention and strategic intervention.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that natural resource management contributes meaningfully to job creation, revenue generation, and environmental protection for both present and future generations.

On behalf of the Minister, the Chief Director, heads of departments, and staff, the Deputy Minister, Hon. Sulemana Yusif, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for the visit, describing it as a strong signal of the government’s commitment to effective coordination, accountability, and inclusive development within the natural resources sector.