The Ghana Gold Board has signed a landmark agreement with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Forestry Commission to commence a nationwide Land Reclamation, Rehabilitation and Reforestation programme.
The project, estimated at GH¢36.35 million, is targeted at restoring areas degraded by illegal mining activities across the country. GoldBod will fully fund the initiative, which will be executed in phases.
Under the agreement, the Ghana Army Engineering Regiment will undertake civil engineering works including land reshaping, grading and combustion, while the Forestry Commission will lead afforestation, authorization and ecosystem restoration.
The first phase of the project will focus on restoring 50 hectares of the more than 200 hectares of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve that have been devastated by illegal mining. The Tano Nimiri is one of the country’s forest ecosystems that has suffered extensive degradation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, said the decision to begin with Tano Nimiri reflects GoldBod’s determination to contribute meaningfully to the restoration of Ghana’s forests and natural environment.
According to him, while gold remains a strategic national asset, its exploitation must not come at the expense of the country’s ecological integrity.
“We are happy to inform you that we are ready to undertake what will become the first major reclamation project GoldBod will be undertaking. We get our gold that we export for the purpose of generating foreign exchange and support the forex accumulation by the Bank of Ghana from both the large-scale sector and the ASM sector. However, due to irresponsible and in some cases illegal mining practices by some of the players in the sectors, we now have a situation where most parts of the country have been devastated by the activities of irresponsible and illegal miners, particularly forest reserves,” he explained.
“So, the GoldBod has initiated a national programme for the reclamation and restoration of degraded mining sites by engaging the Ghana Army Engineering Regiment through the Ministry of Defence to undertake reclamation works which includes land reshaping, grading, combustion, among other civil engineering works within certain designated areas,” he stated.
Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi, described the initiative as a crucial intervention that addresses both the prevention of further environmental degradation and the restoration of land already destroyed.
“When you overemphasize prevention, you only stop further degradation. The lands that have already been destroyed still require deliberate efforts to restore them,” he stated, adding that the project could serve as a model for similar reclamation efforts across the country.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh C.A Brown commended GoldBod for the partnership and emphasized the need to restore degraded sections of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
He noted that the reclamation of the initial 50 hectares would mark an important step towards restoring ecological balance, protecting biodiversity and preserving critical forest ecosystems.
The project forms part of GoldBod’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible resource governance, and sustainable development.
GoldBod views the programme as its direct contribution to addressing the environmental challenges associated with illegal mining and supporting national efforts to protect Ghana’s forests, water bodies, and biodiversity.
The national reclamation programme marks the beginning of what is expected to be a sustained and collaborative effort to restore degraded lands across the country, demonstrating that economic development and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand.
