The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), together with the Forestry Commission and backed by mining and financial institutions, has unveiled a five‑year reforestation initiative aimed at restoring degraded sections of the Subri River Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Western Region.
Launched at Sekyere Krobo, the project will see roughly 30,000 trees planted across 50 acres of damaged forestland, a move designed to boost biodiversity, re‑establish forest cover and reinforce sustainable environmental management in the area.
MIIF Chief Executive Officer Justina Nelson said the programme reflects the fund’s pledge to responsible mineral wealth management and environmental stewardship. “Ghana’s mineral resources create significant economic opportunities; however, their benefits must go hand in hand with the responsibility to protect the forests, water bodies and ecosystems that sustain our communities,” she said. “At MIIF, we believe that sustainable resource management must consider not only the value we generate today, but also the environmental legacy we leave tomorrow. This is the purpose of the project we commission today.”
Project Lead Solomon Dawson added that the initiative should deliver more than financial returns, stressing the need to improve the long‑term livelihoods of communities surrounding the reserve. “The reforestation project must extend beyond financial returns in our environmental sustainability disclosures to the long‑term well‑being of the people of Sekyere Krobo, so that they can have better livelihoods,” he said.
Dawson explained that the Subri River Forest Reserve was chosen after a needs assessment earlier this year identified areas requiring environmental restoration. He noted that planting 30,000 trees would be crucial to restoring vegetation cover and safeguarding the ecosystem’s survival.
The effort is part of MIIF’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme, which seeks to promote responsible natural resource management and support environmental sustainability in mining‑affected communities. It also aligns with the government’s Tree for Life Restoration Initiative, aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and improving Ghana’s forest cover.
Executive Director of the Forestry Commission Dr Sarfo Adu praised MIIF and its partners for backing the project but warned that illegal mining remains a threat to the forest. “The Forestry Commission is committed to protecting and sustainably managing the nation’s forest resources. We will deploy all the resources available to us to confront the canker of illegal mining in our forest reserves,” he said.
The five‑year project will be implemented by MIIF in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, with support from Zijin Mining, Zenith Bank, OmniBSIC Bank, Ghana International Bank and Universal Merchant Bank.
As the reforestation programme progresses, stakeholders will monitor its impact on biodiversity, forest resilience and community well‑being in the Western Region.
