The government has announced plans to reclaim more than 2,000 acres of degraded mining lands in 2026 as part of efforts to restore ecosystems affected by illegal and unsustainable mining activities.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the initiative forms part of government’s broader strategy to rehabilitate damaged landscapes and transform abandoned mining sites into productive ecological zones.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah disclosed that the Ministry has secured commitments from private sector partners to support the expansion of the reclamation programme.

He explained that the government is targeting the reclamation of 1,500 acres of degraded lands through private sector participation, in addition to 960 acres expected to be restored through government-led projects in selected areas.

“We have gotten commitment from the private sector to undertake more reclamation, and we are targeting another 1,500 acres of reclamation this year. This is in addition to the government-owned reclamation effort of 960 acres in selected areas, so we hope to improve those numbers,” he said.

According to the Minister, the collaboration with private sector players is aimed at accelerating the restoration of lands destroyed by mining activities across the country.

“The Ministry, working with the private sector, has embarked on an aggressive strategy to reclaim degraded mining areas and transform them into ecological zones,” he added.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah noted that land reclamation remains one of the major environmental challenges facing the country due to the extensive damage caused by mining activities, particularly illegal mining.

He further revealed that the government successfully reclaimed 1,335 acres of degraded land in the Ashanti Region in 2025.

“I can tell you that just last year we reclaimed 1,335 acres of degraded land, and this was done in the Ashanti Region,” he stated.

The reclamation programme is part of government’s efforts to restore degraded environments, protect biodiversity and promote sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources.

The initiative is also expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to protect water bodies, restore forest reserves and address the environmental consequences of illegal mining activities.