Community Mining at Kwabre in the Jomoro Municipal of the Western Region, which was commissioned on Monday, 5th July to ensure responsible and sustainable small-scale mining has come under serious scrutiny as youth threatens to block it operations.
The youth group calling itself the Nzema Youth Association and Galamsey Action Group are on the ‘neck’ of the government to halt the operationalization of Kwabre Community Mining to allow proper plans or justification.
According to the youth, any mining at the area would pose a major threat of both health and flooding to all the central parts of Jomoro due to the critical watershed area.
“Many people in Nzema are worried, and rightful so, especially given the devastation that mining in Ghana (community or illegal alike) is disastrous as many as of our water bodies have been wreaked with the Miasma of cyanide and mercury thus causing serious birth defects in some Communities in Ghana”
Speaking at a presser at Awiaso on Wednesday, the Secretary to the group, Robert Morkeh added that, they cannot sit aloof to look those who would drink from the river to die from both chemical and other hazardous substances into water-bodies.
Mr. Robert Morkeh said they can never hate mining; but they need properly and regularized mining to ensure that water-bodies and environment are devoid of reckless activities.
The Nzema Youth Association says the community mining project is another backdoor approach by some “greedy politicians” to amass wealth without preserving the environment.
The youth clad in red bands also held placards with inscriptions “Wakeup Nzema youth”, Nzema Land not for sale,” “don’t destroy the environment”, say no to Community Galamsey”, “stop Galamsey in Nzema”, “shame crazy and hungry politicians”, “go away!! bastard political gold looters” among others.
They are also of the believe that the said Kwabre Community Mining is purely illegal mining in a disguise, therefore, they are calling on President Nana Akufo Addo, hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the caretaker municipal Chief executive of Jomoro, hon Ernest Kwofie to halt any plans with immediate effect.
He said, the government should rather focus their attention on genuinely solving the significant environment problem that’s been caused by the disastrous management mining in both Ellembelle district and Jomoro municipal.
The Vice president for Galamsey Action Group, Mr Michael Adebbah in a sideline interview with New Day FM News, on his part is asking the government how much compensation made available for the affected land owners whose lands are marked for the community mining project.
Moreover, the youth group also want to know, the real company or managers of the community mining and the available employment avenue allocated for the youth of Nzema.
Mr Michael Adebbah again lamented that many young people are transported from other regions and municipalities to Nzema-land to hold some key employment positions through protocol, adding that, poverty is unleashing on many Nzema youth due to huge number of unemployment.
According to the youth’s vice president, natives on Nzema-land whose lands are blessed with quantum of oil and gas are denied direct benefict from the resources, but sadly suffering from searing heat emanating from the processing of gas from the Ghana Gas culminating in skin rashes and other diseases.
They have therefore threatened to organise a demonstration to block all access route leading to the community mining site and prevent movement of government machinery that transport Gas and other resources from the Nzema-land if the government fails to heed to their grievances.
Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari New Day and Global News GH (Staff)
Global News GH 