The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, have launched a land reclamation initiative aimed at restoring 153 hectares of degraded land in the Ashanti Region.
The Jimi Land Reclamation and River Watercourse Rehabilitation Project was inaugurated on October 14, 2026, at Tasliman in the Adansi Sakwa District, as part of efforts to reverse environmental damage caused by illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The pilot project will focus on restoring degraded land upstream of the Jimi Dam and rehabilitating sections of the Jimi River watercourse affected by mining activities.
Illegal mining in the area has reportedly resulted in extensive vegetation loss, soil contamination and the discharge of polluted sediments into surrounding water bodies. The destruction has raised concerns about the safety of the Jimi Dam, an important source of drinking water for communities within the Adanse Traditional Area.
Addressing the launch ceremony, Mr Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating environmental degradation and restoring lands damaged by illegal mining.
He stressed the importance of expanding successful reclamation initiatives across the country, describing the Jimi project as a model that could be replicated in other mining-affected communities to promote environmental recovery and greener landscapes.
The project forms part of the environmental restoration agenda of Manhyia Palace, with implementation being led by the Ashanti Green Initiative, which is responsible for coordinating community engagement.
AngloGold Ashanti, through its Obuasi Mine, is providing technical and operational support for the initiative under the leadership of its Managing Director, Samuel Boakye Pobee.
The project also has government backing through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, headed by Mahama Ayariga.
The collaboration brings together traditional leadership, government institutions, mining-sector expertise and local communities to address the environmental consequences of illegal mining and support the rehabilitation of affected areas.
Activities marking the launch included an inspection of the Jimi Dam and a technical briefing on the extent of environmental degradation in the project area.
The ceremony also featured a symbolic tree-planting exercise led by the Asantehene, the two ministers and the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine.
The exercise highlighted the project’s emphasis on restoring vegetation and rehabilitating the damaged landscape.
The reclamation of the 153-hectare area is expected to contribute to efforts to protect the Jimi Dam, improve the condition of the surrounding environment and address the long-term effects of illegal mining on local water resources.
The project’s implementation and environmental outcomes will be important in determining the extent to which the initiative can serve as a model for similar reclamation programmes in other parts of the country.
By 1960news.com
