By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Adansi geographical enclave in the Ashanti region has been identified as being climate change vulnerable, as a result of the level of degradation of the lands through artisanal and illegal gold mining activities in the area, according to a recent study by Solidaridad, a multi-national NGO involved in cocoa production and farmers’ welfare.
This means that the geographical enclave is highly susceptible to the harsh effects of the ever-changing climatic conditions, such that agric production is seriously threatened.
Towards addressing the phenomenon, oil palm, considered one of the most resilient to climate change, is being promoted, for which two thousand 500 farmers are being supported to go into its commercial plantation with AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, supporting the initiative with an amount of one point-eight million Ghana cedis.
The Adansi traditional area in the Ashanti region is very well known for gold mining activities ranging from small artisanal to large-scale legal or illegal operations, including Ghana’s largest gold mine, AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.
Six administrative districts, namely, Obuasi Municipality, Obuasi East, Akrofuom, Adansi North, Adansi South, and Adansi Asokwa districts, make up the traditional area.
The high prevalence of small-scale illegal gold mining, commonly known as galamsey, has left a significant portion of the lands degraded, rendering the enclave highly vulnerable to climate change.
The Obuasi East District Director of Agric, Osei Yaw, expressed serious concern in an interview with GBCNews about the extent of the negative impact of unlicensed mining on agricultural production in his district and why the oil palm project comes in handy.
“The galamsey people are really affecting the Obuasi East district. These activities have depleted the forest cover of Obuasi East district. They’ve also polluted the water bodies in the district. Most of the low-land areas used to cultivate vegetables and rice have been taken over by these galamseyers,” the District Agric Director lamented.
In response to this concern, more than 50 acres of such degraded lands have been identified through collaboration among key stakeholders and reclaimed.
To make the reclaimed lands economically productive, AngloGold Ashanti, the Adansi Traditional Authority, the six District Assemblies, Department of Agriculture, and Solidaridad, a multinational non-governmental organisation concerned with cash crop production and farmers’ welfare, have teamed up to promote oil palm production among the people.
A total of 30 thousand seedlings, comprising two different species of oil palm, have been raised for supply to two thousand 500 farmers at no financial cost to the beneficiaries to establish plantations.
The Economic Development Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr. Daniel Arthur-Bentum, explained to GBCNews why the choice of oil palm in the reclamation of the degraded lands.
Mr. Arthur-Bentum explained, “if you talk of reclamation, one of the economic activities that will be able to help the livelihood of the people and also replenish the nutrients of the soil is oil palm.”
The project, code-named “Climate Resilience Oil Palm Project,” is in its first phase and is an integral part of the agricultural component of the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan, SEDP, being undertaken by AngloGold Ashanti to make the Obuasi enclave economically sustainable with or without the Obuasi Mine of the company.
The Mine is investing one point-eight million Ghana cedis in this first phase of the oil palm project, aimed at also supporting and uplifting its catchment communities from abject poverty.
One of the farmers, Kwadwo Abu, expressed satisfaction with the support provided by AngloGold Ashanti, especially the choice of oil palm as support for the farmers.
“Oil palm has many benefits ranging from soup preparation, export, and soap preparation to cosmetics making; it also has ready market in this area. That’s why we chose it over other plants.”
The District Chief Executive of Adansi North, Mr. Eric Kusi, described the initiative as one of the best alternative livelihood opportunities for the people of the Adansi traditional area, which they must take advantage of to improve.
As part of the sustainability plan for this project, two cooperative societies have been formed. The participating farmers have also been trained and equipped with climate smart production practises, while Agricultural Extension Agents have been trained to provide on-farm services, including digital monitoring and reporting on the maintenance of the plantations.