President John Dramani Mahama has praised the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) for its efforts to reclaim 253 acres of forest land degraded by illegal mining activities in the Tano-Nimri Forest Reserve, describing the initiative as a major step towards environmental restoration and sustainable mining.
Speaking at the 2026 Mining in Motion Forum organised by the African Minerals Policy Centre, President Mahama lauded GoldBod’s collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces in recovering areas damaged by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
According to the President, the intervention demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting Ghana’s forest resources and reversing the environmental damage caused by illegal mining operations.
“I commend GoldBod for reclaiming acres of land destroyed by galamsey in the Tano-Nimri Forest,” President Mahama stated during his address at the forum.
The President noted that restoring degraded lands is essential to safeguarding the country’s natural ecosystems and ensuring that mining activities are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
Beyond environmental protection, President Mahama highlighted a new GoldBod policy aimed at strengthening local gold testing and refining capacity. The initiative seeks to ensure that Ghana retains a greater share of the value generated from its gold resources by reducing reliance on foreign refining facilities.
He explained that the policy is expected to create skilled jobs, support industrial development and enhance value addition within the country’s mining sector.
“GoldBod’s new policy will boost local gold testing and refining, keeping more of the value from Ghana’s gold within the country,” he said.
Industry observers believe the move could significantly strengthen Ghana’s position in the global gold value chain while increasing economic returns from the country’s mineral resources.
The twin initiatives of forest land reclamation and local value addition, according to GoldBod, reflect the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability, responsible resource management and maximising the economic benefits of Ghana’s gold sector for national development.
The Mining in Motion Forum brought together policymakers, industry players and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss strategies for promoting sustainable and inclusive growth within the mining industry.