GoldBod Expands Fight Against Galamsey With Forest Reclamation Plan
GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi says the intervention will complement enforcement, formalisation and traceability efforts against illegal mining.
- GoldBod plans to reclaim three forest reserves in 2027.
- The initiative targets areas degraded by illegal mining.
- GoldBod has also committed resources to galamsey enforcement.
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) will support the reclamation of three forest reserves affected by illegal mining in 2027 as part of efforts to restore degraded areas, its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced.
Speaking with Austine Woode during a Space conversation on X on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Mr. Gyamfi said GoldBod had already begun supporting reclamation efforts and plans to expand the initiative to three additional forest reserves next year.
He cited the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve as one of the areas currently benefiting from reclamation efforts, with the Apaprama Forest Reserve also expected to benefit.
“We are reclaiming it. And next year, we are taking up three devastated forest reserves because the President is so passionate about it; it is dear to his heart, and says GoldBod, you need to help in this fight,” he said.
Mr. Gyamfi stressed that GoldBod was not responsible for the destruction of the affected reserves but had chosen to contribute to restoring areas degraded by mining activities.
He said the initiative formed part of GoldBod’s broader response to the environmental impact of illegal mining, alongside efforts to formalise small-scale mining and promote environmentally responsible practices.
“The solving of environmental concerns while at the same time dealing with the economic need that the gold must meet are not mutually exclusive; it goes hand in hand,” he said.
Mr. Gyamfi also disclosed that GoldBod had provided GH¢5 million and five pickup vehicles to the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) to support enforcement operations.
Additionally, he said GoldBod had budgeted for 10 speedboats to assist with operations on water bodies affected by illegal mining. According to him, the boats have already been ordered and are currently being manufactured.
The GoldBod CEO appealed to Ghanaians to give the institution more time to implement its interventions, noting that the illegal mining crisis could not be resolved overnight.
He said a combination of formalisation, enforcement, reclamation and gold traceability would be necessary to reduce the environmental damage associated with small-scale mining while maximising the economic benefits of Ghana’s gold resources.
