GoldBod, Armed Forces launch GH¢35m project to reclaim 60 hectares of Tano Nimri Forest Reserve

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has joined forces with the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment to launch a GH¢35 million land reclamation project aimed at restoring sections of the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve. The initiative targets the rehabilitation of 60 hectares within Compartment 161, an area significantly impacted by illegal mining activities between 2021 and 2024.

The collaboration combines the environmental restoration efforts of GoldBod with the military's engineering capabilities to address the severe physical damage inflicted on the reserve. Samuel Danso, GoldBod's Sustainability Manager, highlighted the extent of the destruction, noting that illegal mining left behind deep excavations, unstable ground conditions, and extensive environmental degradation that hinder natural recovery processes.

The Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment, under Major Shem Adolinama's command, is spearheading the heavy earthmoving and civil engineering aspects of the project. Their tasks include filling mining pits, stabilizing the soil, reshaping the landscape to facilitate future vegetation growth, and constructing drainage channels to manage water flow and prevent sediment from entering the Tano River.

These efforts aim to tackle both the visible destruction from illegal mining and the underlying land and water management issues that could impede the reserve's recovery. As the major engineering works draw to a close, the site is now being prepared for the next phase of restoration. GoldBod and the military engineering team are expected to transfer the reclaimed land to the Forestry Commission in the coming weeks, who will oversee the reforestation stage, including planting trees and nurturing indigenous vegetation.

This project exemplifies the importance of inter-agency cooperation in mitigating the environmental effects of illegal mining and restoring degraded public natural assets. GoldBod emphasizes that the reclamation project aligns with its dedication to environmental responsibility and underscores the necessity for coordinated national actions to undo the damage caused by galamsey, or illegal mining.

The Board remains committed to preparing the reclaimed land for sustainable restoration and ensuring a smooth transition to reforestation that supports the long-term recovery of the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.