GoldBod commits GH¢35m to reclaim galamsey-damaged Tano Nimri Forest Reserve

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is allocating a substantial GH¢35 million budget to a reclamation and reforestation project aimed at restoring the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, severely damaged by illegal mining operations near Samreboi in Ghana's Western Region. Collaborating with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Forestry Commission, the initiative initially targets the rehabilitation of 50 hectares, with plans to restore approximately 200 hectares of degraded land within the reserve.

The project is a key component of GoldBod's National Reclamation and Environmental Restoration Programme, which aligns with the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance principles.

Military engineers are currently in the final stages of civil engineering works at Compartment 161 of the reserve, preparing the site for handover to the Forestry Commission. Their efforts include filling major mining pits, leveling the land, draining waterlogged excavations, stabilising the soil, and reshaping the damaged terrain.

According to a GoldBod field report, these works have affected 192.4 hectares over the period from 2021 to 2024, although project documents refer to an estimated 200 hectares as the broader impacted area.

Samuel Danso, Sustainability Manager at Samartex Timber and Plywood Company, highlighted the extensive nature of the destruction, noting that the depth of the excavations has complicated recovery efforts without substantial reclamation work. Despite the damage occurring before the establishment of GoldBod, the Board's CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, emphasized the intervention as a national responsibility, underscoring the institution's dedication to responsible resource management and environmental protection.

The GH¢35 million budget is largely earmarked for civil engineering works (GH¢27.9 million) and afforestation efforts over a span of ten years (GH¢7.2 million). Dr. Hugh Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, highlighted the project's significance for biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and the long-term sustainability of forest resources. He called on corporate institutions and development partners to support similar initiatives aimed at environmental restoration.

Professor Ishmael Quaicoe, Director of Responsible Mining at the United Nations University, further noted that an additional 100 hectares of degraded forest land will be reclaimed in the coming year, with the Tano Nimri project setting a precedent for future restoration endeavors.