Government has commenced the reclamation of about 800 acres of degraded land at Nkroful in the Western region as part of a renewed national campaign to restore lands destroyed by illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
The large-scale ecological restoration project, situated along the River Subri enclave, forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader environmental recovery strategy focused on rehabilitating degraded forest landscapes, reclaiming abandoned mining pits and restoring polluted ecosystems.
The Nkroful reclamation exercise follows a similar intervention already underway at Nyankumase in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, where degraded mining lands are currently being rehabilitated through reforestation with cassia and teak seedlings.
Government has officially handed over the Nkroful site to RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited to undertake the reclamation and revegetation works.
Lead Operational Director of RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited, Nana Kyeame Ampratwum, described the initiative as a major step towards reversing the devastating environmental impact of illegal mining across the country.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for prioritising environmental restoration and praised the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for driving the implementation of the reclamation agenda.
According to him, the intervention demonstrates government’s commitment not only to restoring degraded lands but also to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s forest and water resources.
The project is being financed by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, a large-scale mining company operating in Akyem, under a public-private partnership arrangement facilitated by the Lands Ministry.
Officials say the arrangement will save the state millions of cedis that would otherwise have been expended from the Consolidated Fund for reclamation activities.
Under the rehabilitation programme, thousands of cassia and teak seedlings are expected to be planted across the degraded landscape to improve soil structure, restore biodiversity and return the land to productive ecological and economic use.
Beyond ecological restoration, the initiative is also expected to generate employment opportunities for local residents through nursery development, tree planting, plantation maintenance and long-term forestry management.
Speaking during a ceremony to officially commence work at Nkroful, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah reiterated government’s commitment to reclaiming lands destroyed by irresponsible mining activities.
“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.
He explained that abandoned galamsey pits continue to pose serious environmental, health and safety risks to nearby communities, stressing that government remains committed to converting degraded lands into viable agricultural and forest landscapes.
The Minister identified the government’s Tree for Life Programme and Blue Water Programme as two major policy pillars underpinning the administration’s environmental sustainability agenda.
According to him, while the Tree for Life Programme is driving aggressive nationwide reforestation efforts, the Blue Water Programme is focused on restoring polluted water bodies and promoting responsible land-use management.
Since assuming office in 2025, President Mahama has placed environmental governance and the fight against illegal mining at the centre of national policy, with increased emphasis on land reclamation, forest restoration and protection of water resources.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
