Logeist Group Limited, a wholly Ghanaian-owned company, has embarked on an ambitious and transformative environmental restoration project in the Ashanti Region.
In collaboration with its Italian partner, Decarbonika, and in partnership with key governmental and scientific institutions, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CSIR – Soil Research Institute – the company aims to reclaim 2,000 hectares of land devastated by illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, in the Amansie District.
Dubbed Logiest Eco Reclaim, the restoration will be carried out using Phytoremediation, a sustainable, nature-based technique that utilises specially selected plants to absorb, degrade or neutralise pollutants from the environment.
This approach is particularly suited to addressing the severe contamination found in the region, where scientific assessments have revealed alarming concentrations of toxic heavy metals, including mercury and cyanide in the soil and water.
These substances not only make the land unfit for agriculture, but also pose serious long-term health risks to local communities.
According to Mr. Daniel Doe-Tamakloe, Chief Executive Officer of Logeist Group Ltd., the project is not just about reclaiming land, but about ensuring its long-term protection and usability.
“In the past, lands were reclaimed only for illegal miners to return within a few years. This time, our mission is permanent restoration,” he stated, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainable recovery and community resilience.
The initiative also introduces a circular economic model that turns the restoration process into a source of ongoing value.
Once the land is detoxified through Phytoremediation, the plants cultivated in the process will be harvested every three months and repurposed to produce biochar and biowood.
The biochar will serve to further enhance soil fertility, while the biowood will be processed into domestic products such as furniture and household goods.
This approach not only improves environmental outcomes, but also creates new economic opportunities for local residents.
“This isn’t just environmental work, it is economic transformation,” Mr. Doe-Tamakloe explained, underscoring the project’s potential to generate sustainable livelihoods while addressing ecological degradation.
In addition to its environmental efforts, Logiest Group Ltd is contributing to community safety and security.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company has donated a Zonda pick-up vehicle to the Ashanti South Regional Police Command in Bekwai.
The vehicle is expected to enhance the mobility and operational effectiveness of the police in monitoring illegal mining activities and safeguarding local communities.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Cephas Arthur, who received the donation on behalf of the command, expressed appreciation for the timely intervention and acknowledged its importance in improving patrol and enforcement capabilities in the area.
Mr. Doe-Tamakloe also drew attention to the pressing health concerns arising from the toxic contamination of the environment.
He referenced scientific reports indicating that large portions of land in Amansie Central are saturated with hazardous substances, especially mercury, which is known to contribute to kidney disease and other chronic health conditions if not properly addressed.
“If nothing is done, we risk seeing a rise in kidney diseases and other long-term health conditions among residents,” he warned.
To complement the reclamation work, the company intends to undertake large-scale afforestation efforts, aimed at restoring the natural landscape, increasing biodiversity and providing additional employment opportunities in forestry and land management.
Through the combination of local leadership, international expertise, scientific guidance and community involvement, Logiest Group Ltd’s initiative represents a new model for environmental restoration in Ghana.
It reflects a comprehensive and forward-thinking strategy, one that not only seeks to heal the land, but to revitalise the local economy, enhance public health and build a more resilient future for the people of Amansie and beyond.
This project underscores the power of partnership, innovation, and sustainability in addressing one of Ghana’s most urgent environmental and social challenges.
