Aggrey and Associates Limited has launched a new foundation that seeks to help land reclamation and ecological restoration as well as support environmental sustainability and promote responsible mining practices across the country.
The newly-launched foundation’s first project is expected to commence in Konongo, where efforts will be concentrated on rehabilitating lands degraded by illegal mining activities.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of the Foundation, Kofi Twum Ampofo Aggrey, announced that the team would begin by planting mahogany and castor oil seedlings as part of the initial phase.
Mr. Aggrey further indicated that baseline studies would be conducted to assess the specific needs of the local community and guide future interventions.
The effort forms part of a broader strategy to rehabilitate lands degraded by mining activities and to restore ecological balance in affected areas.
On the other hand, Director of PW Mining International, Sam Priddy, commended the government for its policy interventions in curbing illegal mining but emphasized the importance of stronger community engagement to sustain the progress made.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Kwamena Anyima, revealed that President John Dramani Mahama is set to commission the first cohort of 400 youth under the Blue Water Initiative on Monday, April 14, 2025.
These recruits, known as Water River Guards, will help protect Ghana’s water bodies from illegal mining and other environmental threats.
This initiative complements ongoing national efforts, such as the Ghana Land Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSM), launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR).
GLRSSM forms part of the broader National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), which seeks to restore degraded lands and create sustainable jobs for communities affected by illegal mining.
The launch attracted key stakeholders from the mining and environmental sectors, including policymakers and sustainability experts.