By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Traditional Authority and some citizens, under the banner of Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey in the Asante Mampong Traditional Area, are up in arms against the government for attempting to give out part of the lands out for small-scale surface mining operations.
Apart from warning the Minerals Commission against going ahead with its decision, the Chiefs and People have served notice that they will resist any such mining or related activity within the vicinity whether licensed or illegal on the grounds of protecting the natural environment for the present generation and posterity, who also have a natural right to the available resources.
They gave the warning at a News Conference at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region.
The Asante Mampong Traditional area is one of the most revered paramountcy’s within Asanteman with the Omanhene being the occupant of the Silver Stool and the second highest ranked authority within the Traditional Hierarchy.
It is in protecting and preserving this status, the natural environment for the current and future generations while setting good example, that the Chiefs and People have resisted all the juicy benefits of Gold Mining Operations over the years.
The area remains one of the few administrative and traditional areas in the Ashanti Region which have opposed ‘galamsey’.
But, according to the Chiefs, despite an earlier resistance to the granting of Mining License to a Small-Scale Mining Company in 2019 that led to a withdrawal of the permit by the Minerals Commission..
Information chanced upon by the Omanhene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu points to the fact that the Minerals Commission had again permitted a company, ‘Active Target Mineral Resources’, to have been registered in October this year with a stated capital of 100 thousand Ghana Cedis, to prospect for gold at Benim, one of the key towns, at the blind side of the Traditional Authorities.
Following this development, there have been series of actions by the various major stakeholders in the development of the traditional area in protest against the latest decision by the Minerals Commission.
These have resulted in the withdrawal of the gold prospecting permit to the company, but, the Chiefs and concerned citizens fear that, the Minerals Commission can no longer be trusted due to the latest decision without regard to the various key interested groups.
This is what necessitated the Press Conference at the instance of the ‘Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey in the Mampong Traditional Area, in partnership with the Traditional Authorities, citizens of the targeted Community, Transport Unions and religious groups to publicly declare their position on Small Scale Mining within Asante Mampong Traditional Area.
Amidst the chanting of war songs by the organizers, the Chiefs poured libation to invoke the support of their ancestors.
Some of the affected Landholders shared their concerns. One of them, Opanin Dwamena Akosa, said the purported prospecting licensee approached and informed him of the availability of Gold in his land assuring that they would not destroy the water bodies.
The Gyaasehene of Asante Mampong, Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa, said the Chief of Benim who confessed to have led the granting of the concession has been de-stooled and replaced and all other Traditional Leaders within the area have been directed to be on guard to expose and thwart any future attempts by the Minerals Commission and its assigns from reviving the matter.
Nana Atonsa explained that the Omanhene and his elders have vowed to resist small scale and surface Gold Mining in the traditional area.
”When we watch television, we see the devastation caused to the environment including water bodies wherever galamsey is being done in the country. In those Communities, Teenage Pregnancy is prevalent and High School drop out among children”.
He commended the concerned citizens for providing unflinching support to the Chiefs in this crusade.
Spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey in the Mampong Traditional Area, Mr. Victor Owusu, explained that the stance taken by the group in supporting the Chiefs, is also to safe guard the environment for present and unborn generations.
”Posterity also has a natural right to the environment and the minerals. Just as we have inherited these from our forebears, the least we could do is to leave them in its current state, if not better.”