The Lands Ministry says Ghana’s water bodies are beginning to show signs of improvement following efforts to combat illegal mining. However, it admits that significant challenges remain in restoring degraded lands and polluted rivers.

The Ministry’s spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Shandorf, said assessments by the Water Resources Commission indicate marginal improvements in the quality of some major water bodies, including the Ankobra, Pra and Birim rivers.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Thursday, August 6, he explained that while the situation has not been fully reversed, the trend suggests that measures against illegal mining are yielding some results.

"To be very honest, it is not the case that the waters have been completely purified. But if you compare, you are seeing marginal improvements. The improvements may not be huge, they may not be grand, but it is giving an impression that activities of nine months are beginning to produce some results," he said.

Mr Shandorf said the Water Resources Commission conducts water quality assessments twice a year and that the latest results are expected to be released by the end of the month, providing a clearer picture of progress.

On land reclamation, he acknowledged that restoring lands destroyed by illegal mining remains a major challenge due to the high cost involved.


"The thing about reclamation is that it is a very cost-intensive enterprise. If you want to reclaim maybe a single hectare of land, as we speak, you are looking at a figure that is perhaps more than $48,000," he said.

He noted that the government is therefore relying on partnerships with mining companies and other stakeholders to support the reclamation process.

Mr Shandorf mentioned Newmont Corporation and Zijin Mining Group among companies that have joined efforts to restore degraded lands.

He also cited the reclamation of about 800 acres of land at Mansu as one of the interventions undertaken under the programme.

"The land reclamation process is factually and honestly very cost-intensive, and so that is where government would need a lot of support. But there is a clear programme to have the lands restored, and we are sticking to the programme," he added.

The comments come amid continued public debate over government’s progress in addressing illegal mining, particularly concerns about the pollution of rivers and destruction of farmlands.