The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) has taken a significant step towards restoring the environmental integrity of the region by announcing a large-scale reclamation exercise aimed at restoring farmlands and forest reserves devastated by illegal mining activities.
The initiative, which is set to begin in the coming days, will be undertaken by licensed small-scale miners who have volunteered to support the government’s efforts to reverse the environmental damage caused by galamsey operations.
The reclamation project will be jointly funded by the Coordinating Council and the participating miners.
Mr Isham Alhassan, Presidential Staffer in charge of Political Business in the Ashanti Region, revealed that the Council will officially seek authorisation from the Forestry Commission to allow access to the affected forest reserves for the exercise.
“The Regional Coordinating Council is fully committed to ensuring that our lands and forests are restored to their natural state,” Mr Alhassan stated. “This project is a testament to our collective responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations .”
The selected miners will not only reclaim the degraded lands but also undertake extensive tree planting to promote environmental regeneration and sustainability.
Alhaji Musah Osman, Chairman of the Council of Elders for Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti Region, assured that the miners would carry out the reclamation diligently and effectively to support the government’s vision of sustainable mining and environmental restoration. “We are ready to play our part to ensure the success of this exercise,” he said. “This is about protecting our environment, our livelihoods, and our future .”
As part of preparations, the Council opened applications for interested licensed small-scale miners and subsequently conducted a thorough vetting process to ensure only qualified volunteers were selected.
To equip them with the necessary knowledge and best practices, a sensitisation workshop was organised in Kumasi by the Minerals Development Fund, the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and National Security, under the leadership of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and the Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene.
The ARCC’s initiative is a significant step towards restoring the environmental integrity of the Ashanti Region and promoting sustainable development.
The success of this project will not only benefit the local communities but also contribute to the country’s overall environmental sustainability. As the project progresses, it is expected that the affected areas will be restored to their former glory, and the region will become a model for sustainable mining practices .
