By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Chiefs and elders of Akyem Hemang, a farming community in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, have given the Ghana Police Service, Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC), and the district assembly to either drive away or arrest illegal miners who are polluting water bodies and destroying farmlands in the area.
The Chiefs have warned that the community will take the law into their own hands to protect and preserve their water bodies and farmlands if the agencies mentioned above fail to halt the operations of the illegal miners within 10 working days.
Speaking to the press, the Chief of Akyem Hemang, Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori Atta, said that he could no longer hold back the rage of his people.
“We know you have done your best, but it is not good enough. If you can’t do it, give us about 10 policemen to accompany us. Who has authorised them to come and mine our water bodies in the first place? We cannot build Ghana in this way…I cannot hold back the anger of my people again.
Within 10 days, if we don’t hear anything, we will apply officially to follow due process to go on demonstration, and we will need a police guard to drive them away. If there are no laws in this land, let us know so we can take the laws into our own hands to protect and preserve our water bodies and farmlands,” Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori Atta retorted.
Some angry community members speaking to the media blamed the government for the failure in the fight against illegal mining in the country.