The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Ghana has collaborated with the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) to review the implementation of five major government programmes focused on transforming the country's land and natural resource sector. This engagement, led by the Head of the PDU, Madam Dinah Adiko, aimed to identify challenges, address bottlenecks, and accelerate the delivery of results under these programmes. The programmes include the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAIMOS), Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, reclamation of degraded land sites, and Green Mining.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Yusif Sulemana, received the PDU delegation and outlined measures being undertaken by the Ministry to intensify the fight against illegal mining. He noted that the Ministry had made gains in addressing illegal mining but acknowledged operational and resource constraints that continued to affect the effective implementation of interventions across the sector. Mr Sulemana emphasized the Ministry's commitment to ensuring that the government's interventions in the land and natural resource sector delivered measurable results, particularly in protecting the country's forests, water bodies, and other natural assets.
The Technical Director in charge of Forestry, Mr Joseph Osiakwan, provided further details on the Ministry's efforts, highlighting the environmental and health consequences of illegal mining. He outlined the Ministry's five-pillar approach to tackling the menace, which includes addressing the slow pace of prosecution of illegal mining cases, inadequate funding for geological investigations, and limited resources for the reclamation and afforestation of degraded lands. Mr Osiakwan emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the complex issues surrounding illegal mining.
Madam Adiko stated that the PDU's engagement with the Ministry formed part of efforts to provide targeted support to priority government programmes and ensure that implementation challenges were identified and addressed promptly. The PDU team is expected to conduct field visits and engage directly with the agencies responsible for implementing the programmes to gain a clearer understanding of challenges on the ground. This exercise aims to translate the assessment into practical interventions and strengthen coordination between the PDU, the Ministry, and its implementing agencies.
The field engagements are expected to help identify areas where the programmes require additional support or resources to achieve their objectives. The PDU team will work closely with the Ministry and its implementing agencies to develop strategies for addressing the challenges identified during the assessment. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the government's investments in land restoration, responsible mining, reforestation, and alternative livelihoods produce tangible results for Ghanaians.
The five key natural resource programmes under review are critical to Ghana's efforts to restore degraded lands, promote responsible mining practices, and enhance the livelihoods of communities affected by mining activities. The programmes are also expected to contribute to the country's environmental and economic development goals. By accelerating the implementation of these programmes, the government aims to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
The engagement between the Lands Ministry and the PDU reflects the government's efforts to ensure that its programmes are effectively implemented and deliver desired outcomes. The exercise is ultimately aimed at accelerating the implementation of the five priority programmes and ensuring that the government's investments in land restoration, responsible mining, reforestation, and alternative livelihoods produce tangible results for Ghanaians.
Key points
- The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Ghana has made gains in addressing illegal mining but acknowledges operational and resource constraints.
- The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) will conduct field visits to engage directly with agencies responsible for implementing the programmes.
- The exercise aims to translate the assessment into practical interventions and strengthen coordination between the PDU, the Ministry, and its implementing agencies.
