Accra: In a decisive move aimed at reversing environmental damage linked to illegal mining, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has signed an agreement with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Forestry Commission (FC) to reclaim and restore degraded lands within the Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve.
According to Ghana Web, the signing brought together senior officials from the three state institutions, marking the beginning of a national reclamation model that combines engineering capacity, disciplined enforcement standards, and long-term ecological restoration. The initiative sends a clear message that the restoration of forest ecosystems will not be business-as-usual and will not serve as cover for further illegality.
Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, underlined the urgency of addressing the devastation left by irresponsible and illegal mining activities across the country, particularly in forest reserves. He reminded stakeholders that GoldBod was established by Act 1140 in 2025, with a mandate to regulate gold trading in Ghana for maximizing national benefits. Gyamfi emphasized that the Act also tasks the Board with sustainability initiatives, particularly supporting land reclamation.
Gyamfi stated that the GoldBod is preparing to fulfill its legal obligations. The first major reclamation projects will focus on the gold supply chain realities, where the Board's purchasing activities and the support it provides for reserve accumulation come from both large-scale and artisanal small-scale mining sectors. However, illegal and destructive practices by some actors have left large parts of Ghana devastated.
According to the CEO, GoldBod has initiated a national programme for reclaiming and restoring degraded mining lands, engaging the GAF Engineer Regiment through the Ministry of Defence to execute civil engineering works. Planned activities include land preparation tasks such as backfilling, grading, reshaping, compaction, and site stabilization to correct mining scars and prepare the land for ecological recovery.
Gyamfi said the Board chose Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve as the starting point after joint inspections with key stakeholders. He described the sight of destroyed vegetation as troubling, noting that while reclamation may have been exploited by some operators, this initiative aims to close that gap. Illegal mining under the guise of 'reclamation' has been a challenge, where perpetrators secure contracts but continue mining when media attention fades. GoldBod resolved this risk by selecting partners with integrity and structuring roles for state oversight.
The agreement involves two state agencies performing complementary responsibilities: the GAF Engineer Regiment for engineering components, and the Forestry Commission for afforestation and vegetation restoration. GoldBod will provide funding and supervision, ensuring work is conducted correctly and transparently under the FC's custodial authority over the reserve.
The agreement takes effect on July 1, 2026, after which the Ministry of Defence will deliver detailed work plans and initial payments for mobilization. The reclamation focus for the first phase is compartment 161 within Tano-Nimri, covering 50 hectares out of an estimated 200 hectares of degraded area. The civil engineering component will cost roughly 27.9 million Cedis, while the afforestation component by the Forestry Commission will cost about 7.2 million Cedis over ten years, with the first phase targeting around 2.2 million Cedis.
The pilot phase involves an estimated investment of 36.35 million Cedis. Gyamfi presented the project as an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative and a corporate social responsibility effort, designed to be replicated in other devastated forest areas nationwide.
Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, emphasized the partnership as a necessary combination of preventive and restorative approaches against illegal mining. He expressed confidence that the GAF would apply professional standards and ensure discipline in execution, pointing out that standards and sanctions are part of government work.
Hugh Charles Agyeman-Brown, CEO of the FC, described the partnership as a timely response to a forestry recovery challenge. He recalled that the Commission sought support for reclamation efforts, noting GoldBod was the first to respond. The military's engineering expertise is critical in converting plans into physical outcomes. Agyeman-Brown emphasized that reclaiming and stopping excavation are not enough without restoring ecological integrity.
The agreement between GoldBod, GAF, and FC represents a coordinated state effort that goes beyond superficial reclamation. It is built on clear roles, responsibilities, disciplined execution, ecological restoration oversight, and a funding framework to deliver results within compartment 161 of Tano-Nimri. The partnership signals that when illegal mining destroys forest reserves, the response must restore what was lost and prevent new cycles of exploitation under rehabilitation cover.