The chiefs and people of Tontokrom in the Amansie South district of the Ashanti Region have called on the government to grant them concession to do community mining and create employment for the teeming youth in the area.
This, they say, will bring about lasting peace between them and Asanko Mines, which is operating in the area. One person was reportedly shot dead by Security of Asanko Mines whilst the community in retaliation lynched two security men of the mining company over the weekend.
Addressing a news conference at Tontokrom, after the community had gone on a demonstration to protest against the ‘machomen’ being allegedly unleashed on them by Asanko Mines,Nana Kwaku Gyamfi II, Asantehene Nkonya Soafuohene said establishment of the community miming would also help mitigate the issue of illegal mining.
This, he stressed, would allow both the residents and large mining firms to live in harmony.
According to him, the community miming project, which permits local participation in small scale mining, if established, will absorb more residents whose livelihoods depend on mining since time immemorial.
“We are sitting here idling about because we have no job. We are not doing galamsey (illegal mining), we just want a decent source of income for the youth. When you [media] came here you have seen the buildings that have sprung up?
“They have resolved to develop here so they said they won’t build in Kumasi. They say I live here, this is where I will have my house that is what we are looking for,” he said.
He pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to listen to their plea and intervene. “Nana Addo, we are on our knees, pleading with you. Kindly hear our plea and launch the Community Mining programme for us,” Nana Kwaku Gyamfi II added.
On his part, leader of the youth and Unit Committee Chairman of the area, Kwabena Animuonyam, said failure to accede to their request for a community mining will compel them to boycott the December presidential and Parliamentary elections.
According to him, the foreign companies who want to do mining on their land, but continue to attack them would have to take the lives of all residents in the coming days, since mining is their only source of income.
“You will have to kill us all before getting our lands for your mining activities. The youth have committed no crime, but only want jobs.
“If from March to June the Community Mining initiative is not registered, know that we will not vote, we will not vote in these towns. There are 20 towns that surround us here and this is our main source of employment.
“Just look at these teeming youth you see here, how do you expect them to cope without jobs? So, we are telling Ghanaian leaders that we have committed no crime. All we are seeking is that they should grant us the Community Mining,” Kwabena Animuonyam stated.
The Chronicle was told that three lives were allegedly lost on Saturday, March 2, 2024, a day after the press conference following a clash between residents and some machomen Asanko Mines has employed as private security people.
Eric Darko, the Environmental and Sustainability Manager for Asanko mines, confirmed to TV3 News 360 that there was skirmishes between his outfit and the community, but vehemently denied that Asanko Mines had employed ‘machomen’ to terrorise the people.
He insisted that the mining company had not employed any machomen and that they only have private security men to protect the mines.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Amansie South, Clement Opoku Gyamfi, who also spoke to the same television station confirmed that there was a misunderstanding between the mining company and the community and that one had been arrested.
