Otumfuo’s Gold Bar Auction to Fund Jimi Reclamation Project- Oheneba Kwaku Duah
The Managing Director of the Ashanti Green Initiative, Oheneba Kwaku Duah, has disclosed that the ambitious Jimi Land Reclamation and River Watercourse Rehabilitation project will be funded with proceeds from the auction of gold bar embossed with the Asantehene’s image
He disclosed that the funding mechanism was conceived after discussions at the Mining in Motion Conference, with proceeds from the 2025 edition of the Summit providing the seed capital for the project.
Speaking ahead of the launch by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on October 14, 2026, at Tasliman in the Adansi Asokwa District, he extended appreciation to key Ghanaian business leaders whose patronage at the auction made the project possible, including Ibrahim Mahama, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Dr Osei Kwame Despite and Nana Kwame Bediako.
The project aims to reclaim over 670 square kilometres of land representing1,500 hectares – an area comparable to the size of Singapore – extensively destroyed by illegal mining, along with over 100,000 acres of cocoa farms and 60% of freshwater sources polluted with mercury, arsenic and cyanide, according to AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.
Oheneba said the Jimi enclave earmarked for the pilot phase to be executed under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency.
“We have engaged the EPA for the necessary permits. We are in the process of finalising the documentation and will soon hit the ground running,” he reported.
He noted that the Initiative settled on the Jimi River due to the high level of community dependence on its water supply for the Jimi Dam, which feeds potable water treatment facilities.
Beyond restoration, the project has a revenue generation component. According to the Director of Environment at AngloGold Obuasi Mine, George Owusu Ansah, Kenaf – a fast-growing crop used for sacks, ropes and eco-composites – will be cultivated as part of the reclamation process, with an estimated annual revenue of $3 million.
The project, conceived by Otumfuo through the Ashanti Green Initiative and being executed in partnership with AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, was officially launched with the planting of a Ceiba seedling by the Asantehene to symbolise restoration.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
