Accra, Ghana – Rita Awatey, the Eastern Regional Minister-Designate, has pledged a firm commitment to combating illegal mining (galamsey) and restoring the region’s degraded forests and farmlands.
During her vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, Awatey expressed deep concern over the destructive impact of galamsey on the environment, particularly on cocoa plantations.
She outlined a plan to spearhead a comprehensive reforestation campaign to restore degraded lands and empower farmers to reclaim their livelihoods.
“Illegal mining has devastated our cocoa lands and forests,” Awatey stated. “We will enforce laws to protect farming areas and reserved forests while initiating reforestation efforts to reclaim our environment. This is essential to making the Eastern Region and Ghana thrive again.”
Awatey emphasized the importance of restoring cocoa production, a key economic driver for the region. By combating galamsey and implementing sustainable environmental practices, Awatey aims to ensure the long-term prosperity of the Eastern Region and Ghana as a whole.
