Mahama Says Illegal Mining Has Destroyed 12,000 Acres of Land, Praises Newmont’s Reclamation Efforts

President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that illegal mining has destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land, highlighting the environmental damage associated with the practice and the need for stronger land restoration efforts in Ghana.

Speaking at the African Minerals Policy Centre’s 2026 Mining in Motion Forum, the President noted that Newmont had helped reclaim about 800 acres of land for agricultural purposes, including the planting of crops.

The figures underscore the scale of the environmental challenges confronting Ghana’s mining sector, particularly in communities where illegal mining activities have affected land quality and the potential use of agricultural areas.

Illegal mining, popularly known in Ghana as galamsey, has remained a major concern because of its effects on land, vegetation, water bodies and livelihoods. The destruction of arable land can also affect farming communities that depend on agriculture for food production and income.

Mahama’s remarks drew attention to the importance of restoring degraded land and ensuring that mining activities do not permanently undermine the country’s agricultural potential.

The reported reclamation of 800 acres by Newmont represents a land-restoration effort that could support the return of some degraded areas to productive use. Preparing reclaimed land for crop cultivation can provide opportunities for farming and help affected communities regain some of their lost agricultural capacity.

However, the figures cited by the President also point to the substantial work that remains. Based on the reported estimates, the 800 acres reclaimed represent about 6.7 per cent of the 12,000 acres of land said to have been destroyed, although the two figures may not necessarily cover the same locations or periods.

The scale of the reported damage raises questions about how Ghana can strengthen enforcement against illegal mining while improving reclamation programmes and supporting affected communities.

Further details about the locations of the damaged land, the period covered by the estimates and the specific reclamation projects undertaken by Newmont were not provided in the statement.

Mahama’s comments at the forum reinforce the need to balance mineral extraction with environmental protection, agricultural development and the restoration of degraded landscapes.

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