Ghana urged to balance natural resource use with environmental sustainability
The Forestry Commission has revealed that over $44,000 is spent to reclaim a single hectare of mined-out land in Ghana, with costs rising based on the severity of land degradation. Dr. Joseph Yaw Appiah-Gyapong, Head of Donor Relations and Projects at the Commission, disclosed this during the Ghana National Landscape Forum held in Accra on Thursday, April 10, 2025. He explained that the reclamation was part of a pilot project under the Global Partnership for Sustainability (GPS), funded by the World Bank, which rehabilitated 111 hectares of previously mined land.
Dr. Appiah-Gyapong emphasized that the reclamation cost depends heavily on how badly the land has been damaged. Severely deteriorated lands could require even higher investments to restore. The forum, themed “Natural Resource Management and Forest Economy for Inclusive Growth”, brought together experts from government agencies, development partners, civil society, and research institutions to discuss ways to tackle illegal mining and promote sustainable resource management.
Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Yusif Sulemana, welcomed participants by stressing the urgent need for collective action in protecting Ghana’s natural resources. He revealed that recent efforts had led to the reclamation of seven out of nine forest reserves previously seized by illegal miners. Between February and March 2025, over 100 excavators and mining equipment were confiscated, and more than 70 individuals were arrested in connection with illegal mining activities.
Mr. Sulemana painted a stark picture of the environmental damage caused by illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey. He lamented how lush forests had turned into barren pits and clean rivers into polluted streams filled with toxic sediments. The crisis, he said, not only threatens the environment but also affects food security, public health, and livelihoods across Ghana.
To address the crisis, Mr. Sulemana outlined several ongoing interventions, including reforming the small-scale mining licensing regime to boost transparency, decentralizing processes, strengthening law enforcement through military support, and enhancing community engagement. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate and generate bold, practical solutions that would secure the country’s ecological future while balancing economic growth.
Source: GBN