International Water Management Institute, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has embarked on an exercise to reclaim lands that have been destroyed because of illegal mining activities at Kunsu in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region. The organization is planting palm trees on depleted lands at Kunsu where mining activities have caused destruction to the lands and vegetation. The organization will use Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) for the nursery and the planting of the trees.

The objective of the organization in this exercise is to reclaim the destroyed lands caused by the activities of illegal mining and also regain the vegetation cover of the destructed lands back. Also, the planting of these palm trees according to the organization will go a long way to prevent the effect of climate change.

On Thursday October 17, 2024, International Management Water Institute launched a programme called Oil Palm for Post-Mined Site Reclamation Initiative with the theme, inclusive landscape management for shared prosperity at Kunsu Catholic church park at Kunsu.

Speaking at the launch, the District Chief Executive for Ahafo Ano South West District Assembly, Hon. Joseph Frimpong Bonsu said the exercise will go a long way to prevent the dangerous effects of climate change. He added that nursing and the planting of the palm trees will also provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the district. He said the exercise is laudable and called on other benevolent institutions to support the gesture.

The District Co-ordinating Director, Paul Atsu Agbezudor expressed worry over how the activities of illegal mining have affected the vegetation cover of the area and commended the Institute for the initiative to support the District Assembly to reclaim the destroyed lands because of illegal mining activities.

Gerald who represented the institute mentioned that the organization is collaborating with the Forestry Commission and the Agric Department of the District Assembly to reclaim all abandoned lands by illegal miners in the area.

The Vice-Chairman for the Farmer Based Organizations called on government to enforce a law that will put force on small-scale miners to reclaim lands they have used by planting trees on the degraded lands. He said the Minerals Commission should embark on routine monitoring to make sure the licensed small-scale miners do the needful.