By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The paramount chief of Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, Nana Bi Kusi Appiah, has taken a swipe at communities in the Amansie West and Amansie South districts for adopting violent confrontation as their way of seeking help from Asanko Gold Ghana, a legally recognized mining firm.
Such tendencies, according to the traditional leader, do not affect only the mining firm but also portray the area as unsafe for any investment, with the traditional area being the ultimate loser.
Nana Bi Kusi Appiah was addressing stakeholders at Manso Nkran at the handing over of a Community Resource Centre Complex.
Nana Bi Kusi Appiah instead called for dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders in addressing concerns as the best way forward.
“It happened at Tontokrom. It has occurred again at Mpatoam. I’m not the least happy about it. The DCE, myself, and other key stakeholders are always available to hear you on any issue of concern. Let’s always resort to dialogue, not attacks on the mine. If we go by this, they’ll help without grumbling,” the paramount chief advised.
The Manso traditional area, which covers the two political districts of Amansie West and Amansie South in the Ashanti Region, is known for vibrant gold mining activities by legally recognized and unregulated miners.
But the traditional area has been in the news in recent months for all the wrong reasons. This is because of occasional violent attacks by some of the catchment communities of Asanko Gold Ghana, a legal medium-scale mining firm, leading to the loss of lives and mining machinery worth millions of dollars.
At least, residents of Manso Tontokrom and Mpatoam have violently clashed with soldiers providing security at the mine over attempts by the two communities to encroach on the legal concession of Asanko Gold Ghana. The communities are also accusing the mining firm of not doing enough for their socio-economic development, in addition to depriving them of their livelihoods.
Nana Bi Kusi Appiah entreated the mining firm to, on the other hand, consider the concerns of the catchment communities and address some of their needs.
The paramount chief commended Asanko Gold Ghana for the projects provided to some of the operational communities, including Manso Kran, which has been provided with a Community Centre complex.
The Community Centre, whose construction took two years, cost Asanko Gold Ghana 2.3 million Ghana Cedis.
It has offices, a stage for performances, seating pavilions, a spacious courtyard, washrooms, a car park, and is provided with a public address system in addition to 400 chairs for social events and community durbars.
The Managing Director of Asanko Gold Ghana, Dr Charles Amoah, expressed concern over the serious negative impact of attacks on the operations of the mine.
He noted that, contrary to accusations of neglect, the mine, through its five-year development plan under its Social Responsibility Fund, is committing resources to the progress of the operational communities covering education, livelihood empowerment, agro-production, and sanitation.
The Amansie South District Chief Executive, Benjamin Prempeh, assured the stakeholders of a closer partnership with mining companies within the district to advance sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred socio-economic development.
As if to demonstrate to the beneficiary community the importance of the centre, there was a heavy downpour just before the project was commissioned, as the centre provided a shelter for the dignitaries and people who witnessed it.
