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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.