The Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the Forestry Commission, has signed a Land Reclamation and Rehabilitation Service Agreement for the restoration of 50 hectares of degraded land within the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.

The agreement, signed at the premises of the Ghana Gold Board, forms part of the government’s broader efforts to restore lands degraded by illegal mining activities and promote environmental sustainability. Under the agreement, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Engineer Regiment will undertake the civil engineering aspects of the reclamation project, including pit filling, grading, land reshaping, compaction, site stabilization, and other interventions aimed at restoring the affected landscape to a safe and environmentally sustainable condition.

Addressing participants at the signing ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon Ernest Brogya Genfi, assured stakeholders and the public of the Ghana Armed Forces’ commitment to executing the project with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. He noted that the military’s involvement in the initiative reflects its dedication to national development and environmental restoration, emphasising that the Ghana Armed Forces is guided by established regulations, discipline, and professionalism in the discharge of its responsibilities. He described the project as a significant step toward restoring degraded forest lands and ecological balance in areas adversely affected by illegal mining activities.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Emmanuel Kartey, signed the agreement on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Mr Sammy Gyamfi Esq., disclosed that the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve was selected as the first beneficiary of the Gold Board’s national reclamation and environmental restoration programme due to the extensive degradation of the reserve. He explained that the initial phase of the project will focus on Compartment 161 of the forest reserve, where 50 hectares out of an estimated 200 hectares will be reclaimed.

Mr Sammy Gyamfi stated that the agreement will take effect on July 6, 2026, by which time the Ministry of Defence is expected to submit a detailed implementation plan, while GoldBod will make an initial payment to enable the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment to mobilize and commence work.

He further noted that GoldBod’s decision to partner with the Ghana Armed Forces was informed by the military’s reputation for integrity, discipline, patriotism, and reliability. According to him, reclamation projects have often been exploited as opportunities for further illegal mining activities, making it imperative to engage a trusted institution capable of safeguarding the project’s objectives. He explained that while the Ghana Armed Forces will be responsible for the civil engineering component of the exercise, the Forestry Commission will oversee the afforestation phase, with GoldBod providing funding and supervisory oversight.

Providing a breakdown of the project’s financial commitments, Mr Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that the civil engineering component will cost GHS 27.9 million, which will be paid to the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment. The afforestation component, to be undertaken by the Forestry Commission, is projected to cost GHS 7.2 million over the next ten years, with GHS 2.2 million allocated for the first phase between 2026 and 2027. In total, the project is expected to cost approximately GHS 35 million.

Mr Sammy Gyamfi described the initiative as a pilot project and expressed optimism that its successful implementation would provide a model for similar reclamation efforts across the country, particularly in forest reserves severely impacted by illegal mining.

The Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces delegation at the signing ceremony included the Director of Procurement, Mr Theophilus Okine; the Director General of the Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment, Brigadier General Emmanuel Kinney and Colonel Princewill Baffour of the G9-14 Engineer Brigade.