The Government of Ghana has rolled out a nationwide land reclamation programme to restore degraded forest reserves, abandoned mine pits, and polluted landscapes through large-scale tree planting.
On Tuesday, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah handed over 800 acres of mined-out land along the Subri River at Nkroful, Western Region, to RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited for reclamation and reforestation. Sponsored by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited (Zijin Ghana) as part of its corporate social responsibility, the project will see thousands of acacia and teak seedlings planted to revive ecological health and create jobs in mining-affected communities.
This initiative builds on similar successes at Manso Adubia (Ashanti Region) and complements ongoing reclamation at Nyankumase (Amansie South District). Officials say the partnership model saves the state millions of cedis that would otherwise come from the Consolidated Fund.
Minister Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reversing environmental damage caused by illegal mining (galamsey), stressing that reclaimed lands could be converted into productive agricultural zones, forest plantations, and community development projects. He highlighted complementary programmes such as Tree for Life and Blue Water Guards, which aim to restore polluted water bodies and promote sustainable land use.
Since returning to office in 2025, President John Dramani Mahama has made environmental restoration a key pillar of his development agenda, prioritizing reforestation and rehabilitation of mining-affected areas.
