Residents of Kwapia, near Akrokerri, in the Adansi North District of Ashanti region, have strongly kicked against the operations of Akonta Quarry Limited, which has pitched its camp in the town and started doing quarrying activities.
The community has given the company a one week ultimatum to regularise its operations or face the wrath of the people.
Speaking at a press briefing at Kwapia to articulate their displeasure, the Kwapiahene, Nana Gyamerah Kwabena Yiakwan II, said the community, the DCE, the Divisional Police Commander and the Obuasi Municipal Police Commander on March 29, 2022 met the leadership of the company and told them what they needed to do by way of social responsibility to the community, before they start operations.
The chief said, the company, after the meeting has not come back, only to learn that work has started in earnest at the site, with earth moving machines seriously working.
He recalled that some seven years ago, Sonitra Construction Company, then working on Bogoso/Ayanfuri road came for quarry stones from the town, caused damages to some houses by their operations, without paying a dime to the people and said such barbaric acts cannot repeat itself.
Nana Kwapiahene reiterated that the community needed to meet the leadership of the company to agree on the requisite compensation to be paid to those whose farms have been affected, as well as the social responsibility aspect, which the company by law has to offer the community.
The General Manager of Akonta Quarry Limited Obuasi, Nana Owusu Bempah, when contacted on phone, said his company was prepared to settle the ‘goodwill’ package with the community any time from now, but said other outstanding issues will be taken care of when operations fully start.
From Frederick Danso Abeam, Kwapia
