Obuasi: Asantehene Plants Ceiba Seedling to Launch Jimi Land Reclamation Project

The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has planted a ceiba seedling in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region, launching the reclamation and restoration of the Jimi River and surrounding lands.

The tree planting took place at Tasliman, one kilometre away from the first lot earmarked for the initial phase of the reclamation project.

The indigenous species was purposely selected to symbolise efforts to restore the degraded land.

Different species of seedlings were also planted by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga; and the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Samuel Pobee.

His Majesty, through the Ashanti Green Initiative, conceived the project dubbed “Jimi Land Reclamation and River Watercourse Rehabilitation.”

It is being executed in partnership with the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.

Addressing residents, Otumfuo reasoned with the youth of Obuasi regarding the long-term impact of illegal mining (galamsey). While acknowledging prevailing unemployment concerns, His Majesty emphasised that joblessness does not justify the destruction of natural resources.

“I understand young people don’t have work, but that can’t be an excuse for the destruction of our water bodies,” Otumfuo stated. “If we destroy our water, what will become of us? We might die and leave the country behind if this persists. I decided to come for a firsthand view, and the Ministers decided to accompany me.”

His Majesty assured the youth that he would engage the government and Nananom (traditional authorities) on initiatives to create sustainable job opportunities.

670sqkm Destroyed
The tree planting was part of the Asantehene’s itinerary for the launch of the reclamation project on October 14, 2026.

Otumfuo was first received at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, where he was briefed on the extent of damage to the land and river systems, as well as the details of the restoration plan.

In a briefing, the Director of Environment at AngloGold Obuasi Mine, George Owusu Ansah, noted that over 670 square kilometres of land—an area comparable to the size of Singapore—had been extensively destroyed by unlicensed mining operations.

In addition, he stated that illegal mining activity had destroyed over 100,000 acres of cocoa farms and polluted at least 60% of Ghana’s freshwater sources with deadly toxins such as mercury, arsenic, and cyanide.

“The Ashanti Green Initiative’s purpose is to remediate the Jimi River, which falls outside AGA’s concession but feeds the Jimi Dam, which in turn supplies potable water treatment facilities,” Owusu Ansah explained.

“It will also create a blueprint for rehabilitating river bodies that can be replicated across other degraded river systems.”

Kenaf Cultivation
As part of the reclamation process, Mr Owusu Ansah explained that Kenaf—a highly versatile, fast-growing crop used for various agricultural and industrial goods—will be planted.

As a high-demand raw material for sacks, ropes, and eco-composites, the crop is envisioned to generate an estimated annual revenue of $3 million.

He listed the primary steps of the reclamation process as backfilling, contouring, remediation, erosion control, and topsoil management.

Project Funding
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Ashanti Green Initiative, Oheneba Nana Kwaku Duah, said the project began following discussions at the previous year’s Mining in Motion Conference.

He noted that his outfit settled on the Jimi River due to the high level of community dependence on its water supply.

Oheneba disclosed that funding was raised through the auctioning of a gold bar embossed with the Asantehene’s image during the 2025 edition of the Mining in Motion Summit. He extended his appreciation to key business leaders, including Ibrahim Mahama, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Dr Osei Kwame Despite, and Nana Kwame Bediako, for their patronage.

The over 1,500 hectares of land earmarked for the project serve as a pilot exercise that will be executed under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“We have engaged the EPA for the necessary permits,” Oheneba reported. “We are in the process of finalising the documentation and will soon hit the ground running,” he added

Delivering an address, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources commended Otumfuo’s leadership on the initiative, emphasising that the government can only succeed in combating illegal mining through strong collaboration with traditional leaders and the private sector.

Local Governance Accountability
For his part, the Minister for Local Government committed to holding Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) accountable for the ravages of galamsey within their jurisdictions.

He announced an upcoming conference for MMDCEs to address the crisis directly.

“We have put together a conference for MMDCEs. No MMDCE can claim they are unaware of the damage; all MMDCEs share responsibility,” the Minister noted. “We want to step up our efforts and ensure this is not viewed solely as the mandate of the Lands Ministry. It extends directly to local government and traditional authorities.”

He expressed deep gratitude to Otumfuo for his proactive stance: “Your example serves as a model for all chiefs. Every piece of land falls within the jurisdiction of a traditional leader, and we are confident this initiative will inspire nationwide progress.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of AngloGold Obuasi Mine called for strict upstream enforcement to prevent further encroachment by illegal miners.

Site Inspection
Following the addresses, His Majesty visited the earmarked reclamation sites to inspect the terrain firsthand.

During the inspection at Talisman, AngloGold Ashanti’s Senior Manager for Community Relations (Africa), Emmanuel Baidoo, showed Otumfuo “before and after” projections for the site. While admitting the project’s ambitious scope, he expressed strong optimism.

“It is highly ambitious, but we pray God helps us, and through incremental efforts, we will achieve our ambition,” Baidoo said.

He added that accessibility remains a priority.

“Lot One is currently inaccessible, so part of the initial phase involves constructing a motorable access route.”

From there, His Majesty proceeded to Jimi Dam to inspect.

Story by Hajara Fusieni

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/