According to the Lands Ministry it has recieved Eighty Million Dollars ($ 80 Million) to begin reclamation of illegally mined sites across the country. The sector minister Kweku Asomah Cheremeh explained that his oufut needed $200 million for the project.
The reclamation process will involve the removal of poisonous substances from the soil, dredging of water bodies and, where possible, removal of pollutants to make the land useful again.
The government in 2017 began a pilot reclamation exercise at some mining sites in Kyebi and the Prestea area in the Eastern and Western Regions respectively.
Data from the Lands Ministry indicates that an estimated 1.5 percent of the country’s land surface has allegedly been degraded by illegal mining and other bad environmental activities.
This represents between 50,000 and 60,000sq km out of the about 238,000 square kilometers land of the country.
Speaking to Oman News during a tour of some mining sites in the Eastern Regoin, Lands Minister said an office has been set up for the administration of the implementation of the reclamation exercise nationwide.
Eastern region is one of the areas that the exercise will take off. Western and Ashanti regions are part of the areas.
This according to the Minister is all geared towards creation of employment for the indigenes and also making sure that there is proper livelihood for them.
