We’ll restore and convert polluted waterbodies to economic hubs – Lands Minister-Designate
The Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced a comprehensive plan to address the alarming degradation of Ghana’s water bodies caused by illegal mining activities.
Dubbed the Blue Water Initiative, this project aims to rehabilitate polluted water sources and transform affected areas into hubs of ecological and economic recovery.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 27, Armah-Kofi Buah highlighted the devastating impact of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, on Ghana’s environment.
He stressed the urgency of implementing sustainable initiatives to reverse the damage and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
“We have some initiatives that will help us heal the wounds of our country,” Mr. Buah stated. “Our forest, which is the heart of our survival, has been completely damaged and devastated. The Blue Water Initiative seeks to heal and harness the areas degraded by illegal mining into hubs of economic and ecological recovery.”
Rivers and streams, once the lifeblood of rural and urban communities have been polluted by mercury and other hazardous chemicals used in unsanctioned mining operations.
In addition to the Blue Water Initiative, Armah-Kofi Buah revealed plans for another key project: the Tree for Life Initiative.
This initiative will focus on afforestation and reforestation efforts to restore Ghana’s forest cover, which has been severely depleted due to illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion.
“We are also going to do Tree for Life Initiative by intensifying afforestation and we will encourage afforestation across Ghana,” the Lands Minister-Designate added.
Illegal mining, or galamsey, has emerged as one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges in recent years. These unsanctioned mining operations have devastated vast swathes of forest, destroyed waterbodies, and left behind hazardous landscapes.
