The National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) is an initiative of the government aimed at providing sustainable alternative livelihoods by designing and implementing pathway programmes for illegal miners while restoring lands that were negatively impacted by illegal mining activities in Ghana.
In fulfilment of this mandate, NAELP has successfully reclaimed a total area of about 954 hectares in some mining communities.
On Monday, 6th January, 2025 the National Coordinator of NAELP, Dr. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor at a handing over ceremony together with her team, successfully delivered a total of 136.5 hectares of restored lands under the Land Reclamation and Restoration Programme at Nsuaem 1, 2 and Minti all in the Bosome Freho District.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Carol Donkor said, mining had long been an essential drive for the growth of the Ghanaian economy, providing resources that promoted innovation and spur national growth.
She continued that inspite of its relevance to the country, illegal mining activities across the country has left landscapes degraded which needs urgent restoration.
The National Coordinator explained that affforestation of these reclaimed lands began with one thousand labourers employed at the various communities to plant the seedlings.
She revealed that apart from these three communities, other restored sites are the Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai and Juaboso, in the Western-North Region had a total of 545.80 hectares.
At Afiesa 1& 2 , Apapam, Afiesa 3 and Abomoso in the Abuakwa South and Atiwa West of the Eastern region a total of 272.10 hectares of degraded lands has been restored.
The District Chief Executive for Bosome Freho, Mr. Kofi Adu Amoateng asserted that illegal mining is a national canker which needs collective efforts of Ghanaians to end it.
He noted that as a result of government’s reclamation project, the once-neglected mining sites now symbolised hope and opportunities for the communities.
He also urged all stakeholders to prioritize protecting the Lands from illegal miners.
On his part, the Paramount Chief of Nsuaem I, II and Minti Nana Twum Barima commended government and acknowledged the pivotal roles played by various stakeholders in the communities, in the land restorative programme.
He stressed the need for stakeholders to own the project in the interest of posterity while pledging his commitment to protect the reclaimed lands for sustainable development.
The NAELP team also made a stop at the Abuakwa South Municipal where the Akyem Abuakwa reclaimed and reforested lands were formally handed over to the District Steering Committee.
The official handing over organised on Friday , 3rd January, 2024 was symbolised by the presentation of documents to Osabarima Opoku Manya II, Apapam Chief. The act reinforced the legitimacy of the transfer and underscored the responsibility bestowed on the Chiefs.
Source:Myybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
