By: Felix Cofie
The Chiefs and People of the Gwira Traditional Area, Awulae Agama Tuagyan have petitioned the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to revoke the License granted to the Okobeng Mining Company Ltd within the next 14 days.
Addressing Journalists in Accra, Awulae Agama Tuagyan alleged that the company, over the past six years, had engaged in illegal small-scale mining even though the license issued to the company was meant for prospecting.
He said the activities of the company have destroyed cocoa farms and polluted the Ankobra River, the main source of drinking water for the people, Awulae Agama Tuagyan said.
He added that the people are now suffering from all kinds of skin diseases and irreparable skin damage due to the poisonous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide used to extract Gold.
Omanhene said the company had also refused to pay any compensation to farmers whose cocoa farms were destroyed.
“When Nananom and the people started complaining, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Amponsah, used some methods to intimidate us with armed land guards and other offensive weapons.”
“The Company has never provided a single corporate social amenity to any community since it started operations in the traditional area about six years ago.”
“We once visited Okusuro, one of the villages, which had suffered massive degradation due to the company’s illegal mining activities. The armed land guards employed by Okobeng Mining Company chased us with cutlasses and guns…They destroyed our vehicles and useful items…In fact, we’ve become slaves on our own lands,” the Omanhene said.
The Traditional Council had petitioned the Minerals Commission, the Municipal Security Council, the Sector Ministry, the National Security, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Office of the President but nothing has been done about the matter.
He warned that if nothing was done, there is the likelihood that the youth might clash with the company’s armed land guards, which could be dangerous.
He called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Ghana Police Service to, within 14 days, withdraw any licence (s) granted the company to avoid any mishaps.