A major milestone has been recorded in the ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region, as more than 1,000 acres of degraded land have been successfully reclaimed.
The reclaimed areas, which contained over 4,000 uncovered pits, have now been restored and prepared for productive use, including agriculture, education, and community development projects.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Reclamation Exercise Committee in collaboration with the Municipal Assembly, forms part of a broader government effort to rehabilitate mined-out and degraded lands across the country.
Chairman of the Reclamation Exercise Committee, Abdullai Amoh, said the committee remains committed to ensuring that the restored land serves the needs of the community.
“We will continue to engage residents and monitor the sites to prevent any re-mining activities. The goal is to make the land useful again for the people,” he said.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Upper Denkyira East, George Anane, commended the committee’s efforts and reaffirmed his determination to eradicate galamsey entirely from the municipality.
“This exercise is not just about reclaiming land, it’s about reclaiming livelihoods and hope. We are determined to make galamsey a thing of the past,” he stated.
The reclaimed lands are expected to support farming projects, the construction of schools, and other community-oriented developments, marking a new phase in the municipality’s drive toward environmental restoration and sustainable growth.
