Mahama gov’t reclaims 320 hectares of degraded galamsey land

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The reclaims 320 hectares of degraded galamsey land

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has announced that the government has successfully reclaimed 320 hectares of degraded land at Manso Nyankomanse in the Ashanti Region.

The Lands Minister, inspecting the successful reclamation of 320 hectares of galamsey land, assured that the government is committed to a restoration drive as part of the fight against illegal mining.

Reports suggest the reclaimed area comprises 240 hectares at Nyankomanse (Site One) and 80 hectares at Asare (Site Two).

The Manso Nyankomanse reclamation is part of the government’s national reclamation agenda.

According to the Lands Minister, land reclamation remained a top government priority in addressing the devastation caused by illegal mining.

He stated, “These reclaimed lands will help restore ecological balance, improve land productivity, and contribute to the long-term socio-economic development of the affected communities”.

He further applauded Newmont Ghana Limited for supporting the project and also expressed gratitude to RM ECORESTORE GH LTD, the contractor, for the quality of work done.

Also, the Asahnati Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, in a post wrote, “Together with the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, I visited a successfully reclaimed mining site at Manso Adubia in the Amansie South District, where land previously destroyed by illegal mining has been fully restored.

The area, once degraded and unsafe, has been rehabilitated and returned to productive use. This progress demonstrates that with strong enforcement, responsible management, and community collaboration, we can reverse environmental damage and protect our natural resources.

We remain committed to reclaiming degraded lands and securing a sustainable future for our communities”.

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians reacting to the development stated, “While this is a positive step toward preventing further degradation, it does not address the mercury and other heavy metals. They likely persist in the soil post-reclamation, continuing to pose risks to ecosystems, agriculture, and human health unless more specialised cleanup follows”.

“Who destroyed the land in the first place, and was he punished for that if not …”, netizen added.

“Reclamation is very costly and not the best option for us, you guys better ban galamsey once and for all”, one more Ghanaian added.

One more X user added, “This is a rare win for us in the fight against galamsey. We need to continue to push for more protections and hold those accountable who have contributed to the problem”.

Another netizen quizzed, “I’m not impressed very good the land was reclaimed to its original state, but what about the chemicals used in the mining, the mercury, etc., what was done about that?”.

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