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It will cost Ghana at least GH¢1.4 billion to restore about fifty percent of lands affected by illegal mining activities in the Western region.

This is the suggestion from some environmental analysts.

The attention by policy makers have intensified recently following the alarming rate of the devastating impacts of illegal mining activities on the environment.

The development has since resulted in a recent crackdown by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, on some illegal miners across the country.
An Environmental Superintendent, Jones Mantey tells Citi Business News the restoration cost could escalate in areas with grave destruction.

“A number of factors went into the model before coming up with the 1.4 billion cedis cost. This could even be revised and go higher because of the provisional costs and because galamsey keeps on growing and because of the huge rates prices keep on changing,” he said.

Mr. Mantey added, “This 1.4 billion cedis is likely to go higher than what we are seeing. It is actually for earth works; before you can do restoration of land you need to do earth works, you need to impact the filling of pits, you need to seal some tunnels for the underground working, you need to do housekeeping you need to do a chemical study, and you need to look at a number of factors.”

The comment follows a study on some eleven districts of the Western region which have been exposed to illegal mining activities.

The study which looked at the extent of damage on water, vegetation and land, also pointed out that three districts; Amenfi East, Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni Valley have been worst hit by the illicit mining activities.

Meanwhile, the Sefwi Wiawso, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai,Wassa East and and Nzema East Districts, were the four out of 11 MDAs least proliferated by galamsey operators.