The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment are undertaking a GH¢35 million reclamation project to restore 60 hectares of the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, with authorities urged to ensure the reclaimed land is protected against renewed illegal mining.
The project, located in Compartment 161 of the reserve, seeks to rehabilitate land degraded by illegal mining and prepare it for reforestation. The initiative follows reported destruction of approximately 192.4 hectares of woodland between 2021 and 2024.
As major engineering works approach completion, GoldBod and the military engineering team are expected to hand over the reclaimed 60-hectare area to the Forestry Commission in the coming weeks for the next phase of restoration.
The Forestry Commission will lead tree planting and efforts to encourage the regeneration of indigenous vegetation.
GoldBod, Forestry Commission urged to outline restoration plan
To secure the project’s long-term benefits, GoldBod and the Forestry Commission should publish a clear restoration plan detailing when tree planting will begin, the species to be planted, how the site will be protected and the measures that will be used to assess environmental recovery.
Regular inspections and public progress reports will be important in tracking tree survival, vegetation growth and any attempts to encroach on the reclaimed land.
Relevant law enforcement agencies and environmental authorities should also work with traditional leaders and surrounding communities to identify and report renewed illegal mining activities before they cause further damage.
The Environmental Protection Authority should ensure that the reclamation and restoration activities comply with applicable environmental permitting requirements and that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent sediment and other pollutants from entering the Tano River.
Military engineers lead reclamation operations
The Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment, under the command of Major Shem Adolinama, is responsible for the project’s heavy earthmoving and civil engineering works.
GoldBod Sustainability Manager Samuel Danso said illegal mining had left deep excavations, unstable ground and extensive environmental degradation, making natural recovery difficult without substantial engineering intervention.
The ongoing works include filling dangerous mining pits, stabilising the soil, reshaping the landscape and constructing drainage channels to manage water flow and minimise sediment entering the Tano River.
These interventions are intended to improve the stability of the degraded land and create conditions suitable for vegetation growth.
Reforestation marks next phase of restoration
The anticipated handover to the Forestry Commission will mark the transition from civil engineering works to ecological restoration.
The Commission will oversee the planting of trees and efforts to restore indigenous vegetation across the reclaimed area.
However, the long-term success of the project will depend on more than completing the engineering works. The survival of planted trees, continued monitoring and effective protection against renewed illegal mining will determine whether the land recovers sustainably.
Authorities urged to account for GH¢35m investment
Although the current project covers 60 hectares, the reported destruction of approximately 192.4 hectares of woodland highlights the wider environmental damage associated with illegal mining in the reserve.
GoldBod and its partners should therefore provide periodic public updates on expenditure, the completion of reclamation works, reforestation progress and measurable environmental outcomes.
Authorities must also assess the remaining degraded areas and develop practical measures to prevent further forest loss.
The immediate priorities are to complete the handover, begin reforestation, secure the reclaimed land and publish regular reports on restoration progress. GoldBod, the Forestry Commission, environmental regulators and law enforcement agencies must work together to ensure the restored area does not become a target for renewed galamsey.
The ultimate test of the GH¢35 million investment will be whether the forest regenerates, the Tano River is better protected and the reclaimed land remains free from illegal mining for years to come.
