The chief and people of Salma in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region have publicly distanced themselves from claims that the community has endorsed the operations of Adamus Resources Limited, insisting that their opposition to the mining company’s activities remains unchanged.
Addressing a news conference at Salma, Spokesperson Yacoub Abdel Aziz, who is also the Assembly Member for Salma community described as false and misleading a publication circulated on social media and attributed to a group calling itself the “Salma Youth,” saying the statement did not represent the views of the people of Salma.
According to the spokesperson, individuals behind the publication are employees of Adamus Resources.
“We have not endorsed and we will never endorse the activities and operations of Adamus Resources Limited. Our position remains unchanged. We totally reject the irresponsible behaviour, environmental degradation, broken promises and disrespect for community engagement that have characterised Adamus’ operations on our land,” the spokesperson declared.
The community also called on the government and regulatory agencies to intensify efforts against both illegal mining and what it described as irresponsible corporate mining.
According to Yacoub Abdel Aziz, the destruction of water bodies, farmlands and the livelihoods of residents could no longer be tolerated under the cover of legally acquired mining leases.
Assembly Member Yacoub Abdel Aziz maintained that both illegal small-scale mining and irresponsible large-scale mining companies should be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The people of Salma further appealed to the government, the Minerals Commission and other stakeholders to facilitate the entry of a new mining investor into the area.
They stressed that while the community remained open to mining, it would only welcome an investor committed to responsible mining practices, environmental protection, fair compensation, employment opportunities for the youth and genuine partnership with the host community.
The community accused unnamed persons of attempting to divide the community through misinformation, insisting that no media publication could override the lived experiences of residents.
The community therefore urged the media, government institutions and civil society organisations to verify information directly with the recognised traditional authorities and legitimate community leadership before publishing reports concerning Salma.
The news conference also took issue with the involvement of two assembly members in the disputed publication, arguing that they could not claim to represent Salma while serving as elected representatives of other electoral areas.
Describing their actions as disrespectful to the chief, elders and youth of Salma, the spokesperson demanded an unqualified apology from the individuals involved.
The latest development highlights the growing tensions between sections of the Salma community and Adamus Resources over the company’s mining operations, with residents insisting that any future mining activities in the area must prioritise environmental sustainability, community development and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
