Lands Minister-Designate Announces Plans to Revitalize Polluted Waterbodies and Promote Economic Recovery
Minister-Designate Outlines Ambitious Plans to Tackle Water Pollution and Promote Environmental Recovery
- Buah has unveiled a bold strategy to address the widespread pollution of Ghana's water bodies
- Buah emphasized the severity of the damage caused by illegal mining, commonly known as "galamsey,"
- Buah’s initiatives represent a significant step toward restoring the country’s natural resources
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has unveiled a bold strategy to address the widespread pollution of Ghana’s water bodies, a direct consequence of illegal mining activities.
During his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on January 27, Buah introduced the “Blue Water Initiative,” a project designed to rehabilitate contaminated water sources and transform these affected areas into hubs of both ecological and economic revitalization.
Buah emphasized the severity of the damage caused by illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” and the pressing need for sustainable solutions to repair the environmental harm while preserving the country’s natural resources.
“We have some initiatives that will help us heal the wounds of our country,” Buah remarked, underscoring the urgency of addressing the destruction of the nation’s waterbodies and forests. “The Blue Water Initiative seeks to heal and convert areas degraded by illegal mining into centers of recovery—both economically and ecologically.”
Many of the nation’s rivers and streams, which once sustained both rural and urban communities, are now severely polluted by mercury and other toxic chemicals used in illegal mining.
In addition to the Blue Water Initiative, Buah also presented the “Tree for Life Initiative,” aimed at restoring Ghana’s forest cover. This initiative will prioritize afforestation and reforestation efforts to combat the severe deforestation caused by illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion.
“We are also going to implement the Tree for Life Initiative by intensifying afforestation across Ghana,” he added, stressing the importance of reversing the environmental degradation caused by unsustainable practices.
Illegal mining, or galamsey, has become one of the most critical environmental challenges Ghana faces, leaving behind hazardous landscapes, polluted waterbodies, and a devastating loss of forest cover.
Buah’s initiatives represent a significant step toward restoring the country’s natural resources and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
