Illegal mining activities are fast encroaching the construction site of the abandoned Agenda 111 hospital project at Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, raising concerns among residents over possible environmental damage and the future safety of the healthcare facility.
The galamsey operations, which are being carried out within the premises of the nearly completed hospital project, have resulted in extensive excavation of the land, with residents warning that the destruction could expose the facility to flooding and other environmental risks.
The hospital project, which is estimated to be about 90 percent complete, was started in 2021 under the Agenda 111 programme introduced by the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to provide district hospitals in areas without adequate healthcare facilities.
However, following a change in government, construction works stalled, leaving the site vulnerable to encroachment. The abandoned facility has since become overgrown with bushes and attracted reptiles, while illegal miners have moved in with heavy equipment to extract minerals from the area.
Residents say the situation is particularly worrying because the mining activities are taking place close to major public institutions, including the Adansi Asokwa District Police Headquarters, District Assembly offices and the District Court, all located within the same vicinity.
Assembly Member for the Bawdwesango Electoral Area, Hon. Agyekum, described the development as disturbing, lamenting the destruction of fertile farmlands and the apparent failure to halt the illegal activities.
“It is heartbreaking to see illegal mining destroying our arable lands. What worries me most is that the District Police Headquarters is located right beside this galamsey site, yet the destruction continues unabated,” he said.
Some residents, particularly women who were expecting the hospital to improve access to healthcare, expressed fears that continued mining could create serious challenges in the future, especially during the rainy season.
Kate Adu Nyaanta, a resident, warned that the excavation and environmental destruction could increase the risk of flooding, potentially affecting patients, pregnant women, nursing mothers and healthcare workers when the facility eventually becomes operational.
She appealed to the government and relevant authorities to intervene immediately to protect the project.
Madam Akosua Yiwah, another resident, called on traditional authorities to be transparent about persons allegedly behind the illegal mining activities and urged authorities to investigate the matter.
She expressed concern about the hospital’s proximity to the Jimi River, one of the major water bodies in the area, warning that any disruption to the river’s natural flow could worsen flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Former Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, KT Hammond, has also expressed disappointment over the state of the project, saying the facility was expected to address long-standing healthcare challenges in the area.
According to him, residents have for years relied on hospitals in nearby communities including Obuasi, New Edubiase and Fomena for medical services, making the Agenda 111 hospital a critical investment for the district.
He criticised the current situation, saying a project secured during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister should not be allowed to deteriorate through illegal activities.
The former MP also made political claims regarding the handling of illegal mining under the current administration, arguing that the project would have been completed if the previous government had remained in office. The claims have not yet received an official response from the Adansi Asokwa District Assembly or relevant government agencies.
Residents are now calling on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Police Service to investigate the situation and take urgent action to protect the hospital project and the surrounding environment.
They insist that safeguarding the facility is essential to ensuring improved healthcare delivery for the people of Adansi Asokwa and neighbouring communities.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
