The Government of Ghana has intensified efforts to reclaim lands destroyed by illegal mining activities, with the launch of an 800-acre reclamation and reforestation project at Nkroful in the Western Region.
The initiative forms part of a broader national strategy by the administration of John Dramani Mahama to restore degraded forest reserves, rehabilitate polluted landscapes, and secure abandoned mining pits caused by galamsey operations.
The Nkroful project, located along the River Subri, has been handed over to RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited to undertake large-scale reclamation and reforestation works.
Speaking at a ceremony to officially commence the project, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the protection of Ghana’s lands, forests, and water bodies as a “non-negotiable national priority.”
“The Mahama administration is determined to reverse the damage caused by years of irresponsible mining activities, especially in our forest reserves and farming communities,” the minister stated.
Under the project, thousands of cassia and teak seedlings will be planted across the degraded land to restore soil quality and ecological health while returning the area to productive use.
The minister noted that the initiative is not only aimed at environmental restoration but also at creating sustainable economic opportunities for local residents through tree planting, plantation management, and forestry-related activities.
Funding for the project is being provided by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, a large-scale mining company operating in Akyem. According to the government, the partnership is expected to save the state millions of cedis that would otherwise have been sourced from the Consolidated Fund.
Lead Operational Director of RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited, Nana Kyeame Ampratwum, commended the government for initiating the programme and praised the Lands Minister for his commitment to ensuring the project’s implementation and sustainability.
The Nkroful reclamation exercise follows a similar initiative at Nyankumase in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, where abandoned mining lands have already been replanted with cassia and teak trees.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah said the reclamation projects form part of two key government environmental programmes — the Tree for Life Programme, which focuses on nationwide reforestation, and the Blue Water Programme, aimed at restoring polluted water bodies and promoting responsible land use.
He assured the public that the government intends to scale up similar reclamation partnerships across the country to ensure lands destroyed by illegal mining activities are fully restored.
Since returning to office, President Mahama has placed environmental protection and sustainable land management at the centre of his administration’s development agenda, with particular focus on addressing the long-term effects of illegal mining on communities and natural resources.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
