United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa Delegation Pays Courtesy Call on GoldBod

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Richard Nunekpeku, Esq., has received a delegation from the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) at the GoldBod's headquarters in Accra.

The delegation, led by the Director of UNU-INRA, Dr. Richard Munang, paid the courtesy call to deliberate on sustainability and to explore how the two institutions can collaborate to secure a safer environment.

Briefing the delegation, the Director of Responsible Mining at the GoldBod, Prof. Ishmael Quaicoe, outlined the sustainability interventions the GoldBod is currently undertaking in response to the damage caused by illegal mining activities.

He noted that the GoldBod, in partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Forestry Commission, has commenced the reclamation of 50 hectares of degraded land in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, with a further 100 hectares of devastated forest land to be reclaimed next year.

Prof. Ishmael Quaicoe added that the GoldBod is fully funding the rehabilitation of three Ghana Water Limited treatment plants at Daboase, Sekyere Hemang and Bonsa, which were shut down as a result of poor water quality. The three plants serve over 76 communities and about 100,000 users in the Western and Central Regions. Three other plants, at Kwanyako, Baifikrom and Essagyir, are scheduled for rehabilitation next year.

The Director of UNU-INRA, Dr. Richard Munang, congratulated the GoldBod on the interventions and commended the institution for committing resources to restoring forests and water bodies affected by illegal mining.

On his part, the Deputy CEO, Richard Nunekpeku, Esq., reiterated GoldBod's commitment to playing a supporting role in ensuring a safer environment and welcomed the opportunity to work with UNU-INRA on areas of shared interest.