From Ernest Best Anane
Residents of Nwineso No. 1 in the Atwima Kwanwoma District and its surrounding communities have kicked against illegal mining (Galamsey) operations in the area.
They have called for government intervention to save their farm lands from being destroyed to safeguard their livelihood.s
Anthony Yeboah-Asare, Assembly Member for the Nwineso No. 1 Electoral Area and the Presiding Member of the Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly, stated at a press conference that the main occupation of the over 6,000 population of the communities is farming, and that if galamsey operations are entertained there, the future of unborn generations would be jeopardised.
He indicated that the communities had decided to resist any such operations in the area, and would do all in their power to protect their lands.
The Presiding Member indicated that signs are that some foreigners and strangers are contemplating entering the area to initiate illegal mining, which, if allowed, could pose a danger to the livelihood of the residents, since their farms would be affected.
He questioned the essence of the Presidential Task force, which includes National Security personnel, tasked to ensure that the rules and regulations guiding mining were enforced,
Yeboah-Asare stressed that the people would not accept any galamsey operation in the area, and that nobody can take them for granted, and cautioned whoever was behind such moves to stop in his tracks and revise his notes.
According to him, galamsey sites are prone to all manner of immoral acts, including armed robbery, teenage pregnancy, and school dropouts, at the expense of development.
He called on the government to ensure that the law guiding small scale mining is strictly applied to avert any future mishap.