The traditional authorities and indigenes of Nsuaem in the Bosome Freho District have pledged their commitment and support for government's land reclamation project by the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

In a bid to raise universal awareness and support for the National reclamation and reafforestation of degraded lands across the country, a community durbar was held to sensitize the traditional leaders and indigenes of Nsuaem, Bosome Freho District, in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022.

Speaking at the durbar, the coordinator for NAELP, Dr. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor said the President Akufo-Addo-led government is determined to reclaim degraded lands in areas where activities of illegal mining have destroyed the profile of the lands.

She indicated that the establishment of NAELP under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources "is to reclaim mined out lands and restore waterbodies as well as roll out alternative employment for indigenes" adding that her outfit will begin an aggressive earthwork towards reclaiming degraded lands in July 2022.

She opined that contrary to some suggestions from indigenes, Government is not against Mining but frowns on illegal and unsafe mining activities which is not regularized.

Dr. Donkor called on the traditional authorities and the community to help guard the progress of the intervention, and called on them to safeguard the progress and stop illegal Mining activities in their area.

The Assembly Member of Nsuaem community, Mr. Acheamfour who represented the District Chief Executive, Yaw Danso welcomed the reclamation team members and provided a brief explanation of the purpose of the gathering. He encouraged community members to rally behind government to protect the nation's vegetation.

Mr. Evan Yarquah, a geo-scientist, who is part of the reclamation project on the site gave an overview of the reclamation work process and related safety management issues. He said the project is to cure the effect of illegal mining and revegetate the lands. He added that the project is one that is expensive and expressed his worry on the effects of illegal Mining activities.

He explained that the process will involve the assessment of the lands to ascertain the general nature of the soil, identification of large pits filled with contaminated water and filling of the pits with pits to prevent further casualties.

Mr. Yarquah further stated that the soil will be tested to know the kind of tree seedlings that can be planted on the land to restore the vegetation back to its original state.

Representatives from Tradewind Investment Limited, Contractors of the reclamation project led by the Project Manager, Mr. Derrick Boateng pledged their support in making the project a success while assuring the people especially the youth of their involvement in planting to recover the degraded lands.

For her part, the Queen mother of the Nsuaem community, Nana Ama Serwaa Ampem thanked the government under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for its efforts in restoring and reclaiming lands destroyed by illegal miners.

She affirmed the unwavering commitment of the traditional leaders and community to make the project a great success.

Also present at the durbar was Ministry’s Consultant on reclamation and restoration of degraded mined out lands, Mr. Thomas Jojo Tsibu-Darko