Over 1,000 acres of galamsey-degraded land reclaimed in Upper Denkyira East
More than 1,000 acres of land devastated by illegal mining activities in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region have been fully reclaimed by the Reclamation Exercise Committee.
The reclaimed areas, which once contained over 4,000 abandoned mining pits, have been restored and are now ready for agricultural and developmental use.
The large-scale operation is part of a government-backed initiative led by the Central Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with local assemblies, to rehabilitate lands destroyed by galamsey and revive affected ecosystems. The effort also involves strong community participation and continuous monitoring to prevent illegal miners from returning to the restored sites.
Chairman of the Reclamation Exercise Committee, Mr. Abdullai Amoh, revealed in an interview with Class 91.3 FM’s Samuel Nana Tawiah that over 1,000 acres have already been reclaimed.
“Our goal is not only to fill the pits but to make the land useful again — for farming, construction, and other productive purposes,” he stated.
The impact of illegal mining in the Denkyira areas has been severe, destroying forests, farmlands, and water bodies. Abandoned pits have also claimed several lives, with 27 deaths recorded in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality alone.
In response, the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Ekow Panyin Eduamoah Okyere, working with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), launched the reclamation project to recover degraded land for agricultural, educational, and developmental use.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira East, Mr. George Anane, praised the ongoing exercise, describing it as a decisive move to end the galamsey menace and safeguard lives.
“We are committed to making galamsey a thing of the past. These reclamation efforts will not only restore the land but also bring renewed hope to our people,” Mr. Anane said.