The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is partnering with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to strengthen land reclamation efforts across the country’s mining areas.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament that the collaboration aims to promote sustainable mining practices while formalizing Ghana’s gold sector.

The initiative is part of GoldBod’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, targeting the restoration of degraded land using advanced remediation techniques and sustainable land-use planning. Abandoned mining sites are set to be transformed into productive agricultural land, community spaces, and restored natural habitats.

“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ghana Gold Board shall support and scale up sustainability initiatives such as land reclamation,” Dr. Forson said.

Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has severely degraded more than 4,000 hectares of land, including 34 forest reserves across seven regions. Recent government interventions, including banning mining in forest reserves and launching rehabilitation programs, are part of efforts to secure the nation’s lands.

Studies show that major rivers, including the Pra and Ankobra, are heavily polluted with mercury and cyanide, exceeding WHO safety limits. Deforestation in mining areas has also reduced carbon sequestration, increasing climate vulnerability.

Restoration strategies such as afforestation, biochar application, and phytoremediation have met with limited success due to weak policy enforcement, financial constraints, and low community engagement.

This partnership signals a renewed commitment to reversing the environmental impacts of mining while promoting sustainable land use and community development.