Briefing Session with the Honorable Minister for MESTI, Hon. Ophelia Mensah-Hayford (MP), Held Ahead of One-Week Field Visit on the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Projects

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) held a briefing session today, 30th September 2024, with the Honorable Minister, Hon. Ophelia Mensah-Hayford (MP). The session was in preparation for a one-week field visit, from 30th September to 7th October 2024, to assess the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Projects in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Central Regions.

The visit is aimed at engaging with local stakeholders, evaluating project progress, and assessing the impact of interventions in landscape restoration and sustainable mining practices. These projects are central to the government’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability and economic development in mining-affected communities.

During the briefing, Hon. Ophelia Mensah-Hayford highlighted the importance of balancing environmental conservation with economic activities, underscoring that sustainable natural resource management is vital for Ghana’s future. She expressed optimism that the field visit would provide valuable insights into how communities are adapting to and benefiting from the ongoing projects.

The Ghana Landscape Restoration Project focuses on reforesting and rehabilitating degraded lands, while the Small-Scale Mining Project encourages responsible mining practices to reduce environmental harm. Both initiatives are crucial to MESTI’s mission to foster environmental health and socio-economic growth.

MESTI remains committed to working with stakeholders to ensure these initiatives contribute meaningfully to the nation’s environmental and developmental goals. The Ministry anticipates that this visit will generate important feedback and recommendations to drive the success of Ghana’s landscape restoration and sustainable mining initiatives.

Further updates on the Hon. Minister’s tour will be shared as the visit progresses.