Mahama commits to rehabilitating lands and forests affected by galamsey.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to form a national joint action team on mining and forestry to rehabilitate degraded lands, restore damaged forests, and purify contaminated water bodies if re-elected. The galamsey rehabilitation initiative, he stated, would be a collaborative effort with the Forestry Commission, private sector, and small-scale miners. Speaking at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Fiapre, Bono Region, during the third annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining, the NDC’s 2024 presidential candidate emphasized the need for sustainable and ethical small-scale mining practices.

Among the key proposals, Mr. Mahama highlighted the initiative’s potential to revitalize the environment and generate employment in mining communities. The plan includes transforming affected lands into zones for commercial agriculture, such as oil palm and rubber plantations.

Funding for this initiative would come from special fees levied by the Minerals Commission, contributions from small-scale mining groups, and plantation companies interested in the project.

Mr. Mahama also announced the #Atree4life project, aimed at engaging youth in reforestation efforts within mining regions, overseeing the cultivation of economically beneficial trees.

Additionally, he mentioned a partnership between the Water Resources Commission, the Ghana Water Company, and their development partners to launch a water club and blue water initiative to cleanse polluted water bodies.

He also addressed the negative impact of illegal mining on cocoa production, outlining plans to mitigate this issue.