Lands minister leads government’s 800 acre land reclamation project at Nkroful
The Government of Ghana, under President John Dramani Mahama, has intensified its nationwide land reclamation programme aimed at addressing the destructive impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The initiative seeks to restore degraded forest reserves, secure abandoned mining pits and rehabilitate polluted lands through extensive reforestation activities.
The latest phase of the environmental restoration exercise is taking place at Nkroful in the Western Region, the hometown of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.
About 800 acres of degraded land along the River Subri have been designated for reclamation under the project.
Government has handed over the site to RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited to undertake the reclamation and reforestation works.
Lead Operational Director of Ecorestore Ghana Limited, Nana Kyeame Ampratwum, commended the Mahama administration for introducing the land reclamation project.
He further praised Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for spearheading the initiative and demonstrating commitment towards its implementation and sustainability.
The project is being financed by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, a large-scale mining company operating in Akyem.
The partnership, facilitated by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, is expected to save the state millions of cedis that would otherwise have been sourced from the Consolidated Fund.
The broader strategy combines ecological restoration efforts with socio-economic support for affected communities.
Under the ecological rehabilitation programme, thousands of cassia and teak seedlings are expected to be planted across the degraded land.
The selected tree species are intended to improve soil fertility, restore ecological balance and return the land to productive use.
Beyond environmental restoration, the initiative is expected to create employment opportunities in tree planting, plantation management and long-term forestry development for residents in mining-affected communities.
Government officials noted that the Nkroful project forms part of a broader national campaign against environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
A similar reclamation project is already ongoing at Nyankumase in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, where abandoned mining lands have been replanted with cassia and teak seedlings.
Speaking at a ceremony to officially commence work at Nkroful, the Lands and Natural Resources minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah reiterated that protecting Ghana’s lands, forests and water bodies remains a 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,” he stated.
The Minister identified the government’s Tree for Life Programme and Blue Water Programme as key pillars of the administration’s environmental sustainability agenda.
According to him, the Tree for Life Programme focuses on aggressive nationwide reforestation while the Blue Water Programme seeks to restore polluted water bodies and promote responsible land-use practices.
Since returning to office in 2025, President Mahama has placed environmental protection at the centre of his governance agenda, with a strong focus on reclaiming lands destroyed by illegal mining activities.
The Minister explained that abandoned mining pits continue to pose serious safety and health risks to local communities, stressing that transforming such lands into agricultural fields and forest plantations remains a key objective of government.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah assured the public that the Nkroful and Nyankumase reclamation projects represent only the beginning of a nationwide effort to restore lands destroyed by galamsey activities.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
