By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has called on government to reclaim farmlands destroyed by illegal mining (galamsey) activities and allocate them to farmers for cultivation, citing their high potential for agricultural productivity.
Speaking at a press briefing, Francis Opai Tetteh – the consultant appointed to support forming GNAFF’s new National Executive Committee – emphasised that reclaimed mining lands, when properly restored, can support staple crops such as maize and cassava as well as cash crops like cocoa.
“Reclaimed mining lands hold significant potential for high-yield cultivation. Once restored, they can support drought-tolerant crops and enhance both food and energy security, particularly in areas vulnerable to climate change,” Mr. Tetteh said.
He noted that large-scale reclamation requires significant investment, making state intervention essential. GNAFF urged government to prioritise restoration of galamsey-degraded lands through relevant agencies and institutions to facilitate access for farmers.
The association argued that illegal mining has devastated vast swathes of arable land, undermining rural livelihoods and contributing to food insecurity. Restoring these lands for agricultural use, it said, could revitalise rural economies, stabilise food production and rebuild farmer resilience.
Formed in 1992 as a constitutionally mandated body, GNAFF represents farmers and fishermen across Ghana and advocates for their welfare and sectoral growth. However, the association suffered a decline in recent years due to resource mismanagement, weak leadership structures and political interference.
Since 2024, GNAFF has undertaken efforts to restructure and revitalise its operations by mobilising 1,827 executive officers across all 261 districts.
The upcoming regional executive election in the Northern Region, scheduled for 14th June 2025, is expected to complete the district and regional formation process. This will pave the way for GNAFF’s 8th National Delegates Congress, slated for 11th–12th July 2025 in Kumasi to elect new national executives.
Abraham Dwumah Odoom, Chairman-Central Region Agribusiness Association, stressed the importance of GNAFF’s re-engagement in national agricultural discourse. “We have been absent from key conversations on agriculture and fisheries. It is time to reassert our role as stakeholders in driving food security and economic development,” he said.
GNAFF also reiterated its call to re-establish the association as a vehicle for welfare provision including retirement benefits for farmers, mirroring the formal sector.
According to the association, studies indicate that properly reclaimed galamsey lands can outperform traditional farmlands in crop yields. GNAFF said it intends leading efforts to recover and utilise these lands for addressing national food supply challenges.
