Akyem Asamama, a cocoa-farming community in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has been severely affected by illegal surface mining (“galamsey”), leaving behind degraded lands, unsafe pits, and rising health and social challenges. 

In response, the community has initiated a restoration agenda that combines: 

• Community-led interventions – engaging miners and leaders, listening to grievances, and delivering training on sustainable practices. 

• Forest and land restoration – exploring afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry systems to recover biodiversity and create economic alternatives. 

• Future opportunities – potential carbon credit–based projects, community land trusts, and partnerships with academia and investors. 

The goal is clear: to transform degraded landscapes into productive, sustainable ecosystems that secure livelihoods, restore biodiversity, and unlock climate finance opportunities.