The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, have launched a project to reclaim 153 hectares of degraded land and rehabilitate the Jimi River watercourse in the Ashanti Region following environmental damage caused by illegal small-scale mining.
The Jimi Land Reclamation and River Watercourse Rehabilitation Project was launched on October 14, 2026, at Tasliman in the Adansi Sakwa District.
The pilot project targets land upstream of the Jimi Dam, a key source of drinking water for the Adanse Traditional Area. Illegal mining in the area has stripped vegetation, contaminated soil and generated sediment runoff, raising concerns about the dam and the quality of its water.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Buah said the government was committed to tackling environmental degradation and called for the Jimi project to serve as a model for restoring damaged landscapes and promoting greening across the country.
The initiative is anchored by Manhyia Palace as part of its environmental restoration agenda. The Ashanti Green Initiative is leading implementation and community engagement, with technical and operational support from AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine.
The project is also backed by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, led by Mahama Ayariga.
The launch included an inspection of the Jimi Dam, a technical briefing on the extent of the environmental damage and a symbolic tree-planting exercise involving the Asantehene, the ministers and the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine, Samuel Boakye Pobee.
The project is expected to focus on restoring degraded land and rehabilitating the river watercourse in an area where illegal mining has placed pressure on the local environment and a critical water source.
