By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The chief, elders, and residents of Kwahu Daa in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region have rejected out rightly a proposed community mining by the Member of Parliament (MP) of Kwahu West, Mr. Joseph Frempong.
The chiefs and residents of Kwahu Daa showing their outright rejection of the proposed community mining staged a protesting march against any move to mine on farmlands.
The protest is said to be a response to a letter allegedly sent by the MP to the chief on his intentions.
The chief, elders, and residents of the town and its adjourning areas have cautioned the Kwahu West lawmaker not to attempt any move for the community mining at Kwahu Daa.
The Chief of Kwahu Daa, a farming community, Nana Amakye Appah is of the opinion that the proposed community mining scheme would affect their farming activities.
“The MP, Mr. Fremong, brought the letter. We don’t like community mining in any form. We sold several bags of cocoa this season, we can’t allow our cocoa farms, plantains, and cocoyam farms to go to waste. We love our farming and the income it brings to us.” The Chief of Kwahu Daa reiterated.
Some angry residents argued that community mining when allowed in the town will have a negative effect on their social and cultural lives which will be worse than the economic gains alleged will accrue from such activity.
“The adverse effect of mining seen across the areas where such activities take place does not encourage us to give out our farmlands. We want to live a better environment for our children.”
Another added: “I am deeply hurt by the action of the MP. We don’t want the community mining.”
In 2019, the President Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party government through the Minerals Commission, which regulates the mining sector, introduced a Community Mining Scheme (CMS).
This was designed to turn illegal miners into formal small-scale miners by allowing them to mine in specifically designated areas under government supervision provided they meet certain safety and environmental criteria.
But the Chief of Kwahu Daa Nana Amakye Appah and his folks say no to such a move no matter who is leading it and where the proposal is coming from.
