The Chief Executive of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr Andy Osei Okrah, has called for the use of oil palm cultivation as part of efforts to reclaim lands degraded by illegal mining across the country.
The proliferation of illegal small-scale mining has destroyed large stretches of arable land, threatening agricultural production, food security and the livelihoods of farming communities.
Dr Okrah said the National Initiative for Sustainable Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders could provide a practical pathway to restoring degraded mining sites while creating sustainable economic opportunities for affected communities.
Speaking on Wonsom, a current affairs programme on Akoma 87.9FM in Kumasi, hosted by Sir John, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, Dr Okrah said the TCDA was facilitating access to climate-resilient oil palm seedlings, processing equipment and soil analysis services for communities where reclamation activities would be undertaken.
He said the initiative was partly in response to growing concerns over the destruction of agricultural lands through illegal mining and the need to return affected areas to productive use.
“Mining continues to compete with other land-use activities in our communities. It is, therefore, crucial for sustainable land reclamation initiatives to be implemented to equip mining communities with skills to improve their economic activities,” he said.
According to him, restoring degraded mining areas to productive agricultural land would also help prevent communities from becoming economically stagnant or “ghost towns” after mining activities cease.
Dr Okrah said many communities were likely to welcome the intervention, particularly given the prospect of restoring damaged lands and creating alternative sources of livelihoods.
He described oil palm as a resilient crop and one of the most suitable options for the reclamation of degraded mined lands.
Beyond restoring the productive capacity of affected lands, he said, oil palm cultivation could help mitigate some of the environmental and climate impacts associated with illegal mining while expanding livelihood opportunities for beneficiary communities.
The TCDA initiative, he added, was therefore expected to contribute to both environmental restoration and the development of sustainable agricultural enterprises in mining-affected areas.
NR NEWS
