Ghana's Gold Board Partners Military to Restore Tano-Nimri Forest
Ghana is turning the page on the devastation of illegal mining. The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and the Forestry Commission (FC) have signed a landmark agreement to reclaim and restore degraded lands inside the Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve. The deal, effective July 1, 2026, pilots a national reclamation model that merges military engineering discipline with ecological restoration oversight.
What is the GoldBod reclamation agreement?
The agreement is a structured, state-led response to the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, often called galamsey. GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi signed the pact alongside senior officials from the GAF and the FC. The partnership assigns clear roles: the GAF Engineer Regiment handles the civil engineering work, the FC manages afforestation and vegetation restoration, and GoldBod provides the funding and supervision. The pilot phase targets compartment 161 within the Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve, covering 50 hectares of an estimated 200 hectares of degraded area.
How will the 36.35 million Cedis be allocated?
The pilot phase involves an estimated investment of roughly 36.35 million Cedis. The civil engineering component, managed by the GAF Engineer Regiment, will cost approximately 27.9 million Cedis. This covers land preparation tasks including backfilling, grading, reshaping, compaction, and site stabilization. The afforestation and authorization component, managed by the FC, will cost about 7.2 million Cedis over ten years. The first phase of the FC's work, scheduled for 2026 and possibly part of 2027, targets around 2.2 million Cedis.
Why involve the Ghana Armed Forces in land reclamation?
Past reclamation efforts in Ghana have struggled with a critical loophole. Illegal operators secured reclamation contracts but continued mining when media attention faded. GoldBod resolved this risk by selecting partners with proven integrity and discipline. Deputy Minister for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi emphasized that the GAF will apply professional standards and follow required protocols. The military's engineering expertise and large cadre of trained engineers are critical in converting plans into physical outcomes on the ground, according to FC Chief Executive Hugh Charles Agyeman-Brown.
What is the legal mandate of the GoldBod?
GoldBod was established by Act 1140 in 2025. Its primary mandate is to regulate gold trading in Ghana for the maximization of national benefits. Beyond economic regulation, the Act places responsibilities on the Board regarding sustainability initiatives, especially support towards land reclamation. Gyamfi stated that GoldBod is barely one year old and has been preparing to deliver on this legal obligation. He framed the project as an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative and a corporate social responsibility effort, designed to be replicated in other devastated forest areas nationwide.
How does this partnership protect against future illegal mining?
The partnership is built on clear roles, defined responsibilities, and disciplined execution. GoldBod will ensure the work is conducted correctly and transparently in line with the custodial authority of the FC over the reserve. Genfi stressed that enforcement alone prevents further damage, but restoration is required when the damage has already happened. Agyeman-Brown emphasized that reclaiming and stopping excavation are not enough without restoring the ecological integrity of damaged landscapes. For the FC, restoration means rehabilitating mined land in ways that allow forests to return to their intended function within the ecosystem.
FAQ: Ghana's Forest Reclamation Push
When does the Tano-Nimri reclamation project start?
The agreement takes effect on July 1, 2026. The Ministry of Defence will deliver detailed work plans and initial payments will enable mobilization for execution of the works.
How much land will be reclaimed in the first phase?
The first phase targets 50 hectares within compartment 161 of the Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve, out of an estimated 200 hectares of degraded area in that compartment.
Which organizations are funding the reclamation?
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is providing the funding and supervision for the pilot phase, which involves an estimated investment of roughly 36.35 million Cedis.
What is the total cost of the afforestation component?
The afforestation and authorization component managed by the Forestry Commission will cost about 7.2 million Cedis over ten years.