President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will allocate GH¢200 million to reclaim 5,000 acres of land damaged by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The President made the announcement on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Mining in Motion Summit organised by the African Minerals Policy Centre in Accra.

He said the reclamation exercise is expected to begin in 2027 as part of efforts to restore degraded land and protect Ghana’s environment. <Cite refs={[“turn686040search0″,”turn686040search2”]}/>

Government Sets Aside Funds for Land Restoration

President Mahama explained that the GH¢200 million allocation will support the rehabilitation of land destroyed by illegal mining.

The government plans to restore 5,000 acres of degraded land through the initiative.

The announcement comes as authorities continue efforts to address the environmental damage caused by galamsey, which has affected forests, water bodies and farming communities across the country.

According to the President, the wider damage caused by illegal mining nationwide is estimated at about 12,000 acres. <Cite refs={[“turn686040search0”]}/>

Another GH¢200 Million for Environmental Protection

In addition to the reclamation funding, President Mahama announced a further GH¢200 million allocation for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Blue Water Guards.

This brings the total planned allocation to GH¢400 million for land reclamation and related environmental protection activities in the 2027 Budget. <Cite refs={[“turn686040search0”]}/>

The funding is intended to support efforts to protect the environment and strengthen the response to illegal mining.

Illegal Mining Has Affected Forest Reserves

President Mahama also disclosed that illegal miners had encroached on 48 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves.

He said nine of the affected reserves had previously been classified as red zones because armed miners prevented forest guards from entering them.

According to the President, those nine reserves have since been cleared of illegal miners and are being prepared for reclamation. <Cite refs={[“turn686040search0″,”turn686040news12”]}/>

The government has also highlighted ongoing restoration projects involving state institutions and mining companies.

These include work by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the Ghana Armed Forces to reclaim 253 acres in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.

President Mahama also cited Newmont’s reclamation of nearly 800 acres of mined-out land, where useful crops have been planted. <Cite refs={[“turn686040search0”]}/>

Focus on Restoring Degraded Land

Reclaiming land damaged by illegal mining is important for restoring vegetation, protecting water resources and supporting communities whose livelihoods depend on farming and healthy ecosystems.

However, the success of the initiative will depend on how effectively the funds are used, how much land is restored and whether the reclaimed areas remain protected from renewed mining.

The planned GH¢200 million reclamation programme is expected to begin in 2027, with the broader environmental allocation forming part of the government’s next budget.

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