Government to reclaim 1.5% of degraded lands

The 1.5 per cent degraded lands out of the 238,000 kilometre square of the country, would be rehabilitated, Mr John Peter Amewu, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has announced.

He said from GH¢60, 000 to GH¢70, 000 was estimated to be used to rehabilitate a hectare of land.

Mr Amewu made this known in Bogoso when he led a team comprising officials of the Minerals Commission, some security personnel and the media toured some mining sites in the Western Region.

The tour followed the expiration of the three-week ultimatum the Minister gave to illegal miners to evacuate their equipment and leave mining sites.

The Minister said the government would recruit the illegal miners for the reclamation process.

He said the government was not against mining but abhor the methodology being used, which was destroying water bodies and vegetation.

He said the government would engage the miners under the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project and provide them with alternative livelihoods.

Mr Francis Sarfo, an Environmental Officer at the Golden Star Resources, took the Minister and his entourage round some reclaimed lands the company undertook.

He said the mining firm back-filled the mining pits and covered them with black soil after which nitrogen-fixing trees were planted to make sure the lands return to their original state.

He said the reclaimed lands were being used for farming by the adjoining communities, which had been yielding high produce.

The Minister and his entourage visited Domenase, Tumantu, Bawdie, Tarkwa-Breman and Prestea in the Nzema East Municipality, Amenfi Central and Prestea Huni Valley districts.

Source: GNA