The Mining Committee of the National Democratic Congress has reiterated the political party’s intention to convert degraded galamsey sites into viable agricultural lands.

It will involve implementation of what they call “Tree for Life” reforestation policy which will ensure the cultivation of cash crops on reclaimed lands.

Member of the Committee, Michael Kwadwo Peprah says, “People are not covering their pits. The party manifesto has shown reclamation as the way. This is a long term solution to the challenge of open pits”.

Cocoa, palm and rubber are among trees targeted for the initiative.

The Blue Water Initiative which forms part of the restoration policy will aim at ensuring resuscitating river bodies affected by the menace.

The party, if successful in winning the upcoming election intends to implement the Blue Water Initiative through the Water Commission and the Ghana Water Company.

The evidence of the harm caused to the environment through illegal mining remains visible in affected areas.

Aside from the destruction of water bodies, the ecology and quality of soil in these area are under threat.

Despite the potential of degraded lands regaining their quality when restored, little has been done by government in this area.

In ensuring farmers whose lands were taken for mining are restored, the NDC has made a manifesto promise to restore the degraded lands for agriculture purposes.

Meanwhile, the committee has been explaining the party’s intention to re-categorize mining in into small-scale, medium scale, and large-scale.

A member of the NDC, Samuel Hadjor, explaining the manifesto to miners said there is no intention to cease small scale mining.

“The NDC thinks about the future so we are concerned about ensuring the best way of ensuring all these activities are well organized so we the we protect the environment”, he added.