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The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced plans to support the reclamation of three forest reserves affected by illegal mining activities in 2027 as part of efforts to restore degraded lands.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, disclosed this during a Space conversation on X on Sunday, August 9, 2026, saying the initiative would expand ongoing reclamation efforts aimed at addressing the environmental impact of illegal mining.
He mentioned the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve as one of the areas currently benefiting from reclamation efforts, while Apaprama is also expected to be included in the intervention.
“We are reclaiming it. And next year, we are taking up three devastated forest reserves because the President is so passionate about it; it is dear to his heart, and says GoldBod, you need to help in this fight,” Mr Gyamfi said.
The GoldBod CEO stressed that the organisation was not responsible for the destruction of the forest reserves but had chosen to support restoration efforts as part of its commitment to tackling the effects of illegal mining.
He said the intervention forms part of GoldBod’s broader strategy, which includes formalising small-scale mining, strengthening enforcement and promoting environmentally responsible mining practices.
“The solving of environmental concerns while at the same time dealing with the economic need that the gold must meet are not mutually exclusive; it goes hand in hand,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi also revealed that GoldBod had provided GH¢5 million and five pickup vehicles to the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) to enhance its operations against illegal mining.
He added that the Board had budgeted for 10 speedboats to support monitoring and enforcement activities on water bodies affected by mining, with the boats already ordered and under production.
Mr Gyamfi urged Ghanaians to give GoldBod time to implement its interventions, noting that the illegal mining challenge requires a long-term approach.
He said a combination of reclamation, formalisation, enforcement and gold traceability measures would help reduce environmental destruction while ensuring Ghana gains maximum benefits from its gold resources.
Story by Efua Nessa