As part of his familiarization tour of agencies under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has paid a working visit to the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) secretariat, where he pledged government’s continued support for its land reclamation efforts and other sustainable initiatives.
Welcoming the Minister, the National Coordinator of NAELP, Ing. Frank Asare, presented a detailed briefing on the programme’s major achievements. These include strides in land reclamation, re-afforestation, skills training, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, and community sensitization on illegal mining. He also outlined NAELP’s future plans, including the rehabilitation of 2,000 acres of degraded land and the training of over 500 young men and women across mining-affected communities.
Ing. Asare emphasized the importance of green financing, carbon sequestration, and building partnerships with the private sector for large-scale plantation development. He noted that these initiatives are in alignment with government policies aimed at promoting environmental recovery and sustainable livelihoods.
In response, Honourable Armah-Kofi Buah commended the NAELP team for their proactive work and detailed presentation. He reiterated the government’s resolve to end illegal mining and highlighted the need to create viable alternative livelihoods for affected youth.
The Minister stressed that NAELP plays a central role in this transition, particularly through land reclamation and agricultural support. He urged the team to expand their partnerships, especially with the private sector, and to explore complementary sectors such as agriculture to maximize impact.
He affirmed that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the government is focused on creating pathways that not only restore degraded lands but also provide long-term employment for young people.
In closing, he encouraged NAELP to make education and sensitization a core part of its mission, and to leverage the government’s agricultural and agribusiness agenda to add value to reclaimed lands. The Minister reaffirmed his full support for NAELP’s work and its vision of building a sustainable future for Ghana’s mining-affected communities.
