Mampong residents join traditional rulers in the fight against illegal mining
Residents of Mampong are prepared to face-off ‘galamseyers’ as they join traditional rulers to fight the menace
Concerned Citizens of Mampong Against Galamsey – an anti-galamsey group at Mampong in the Ashanti region has threatened to kick against all forms of mining activities in the area.
The angry residents all from sub communities at Mampong joined the Mampong Traditional Council and threatened to take on the government, citing the negative effects of mining in recent times.
Speaking at a press conference the president of the Concerned Citizens, Victor Owusu vowed to support the traditional rulers to resist every mining activity in the area as it poses a threat to their already scarce water supply and farmlands.
“The Environment and water bodies in the Mampong Traditional Area stand the risk of being desecrated by the parceling out of our lands and rivers for the purposes of filthy galamsey money.”
“Looking at the consequences of galamsey on rivers and water bodies in other communities, we cannot be passive and unconcerned when we are threatened with the galamsey scourge of water pollution. We are therefore determined to kick against galamsey which is acknowledged as a threat to rivers and water bodies which provide us with water for survival.”
“Sooner than later such communities will spend all the monies they have gotten from galamsey on food and water. We do not want such a situation in Asante Mampong.”
He also urged the Minerals Commission to desist from granting mining permits to companies for gold prospecting on their lands warning of dire consequences.
“We became alarmed when we heard that the Minerals Commission has granted Minerals right to a certain company to come and mine in the Asante Mampong Traditional area. With the benefit of hindsight, we became disturbed and decided to rise up against any form of Minerals prospecting particularly galamsey in Asante Mampong.”
The anti-galamsey group are not in this alone, residents of Mampong also say they are prepared to face-off with illegal miners to protect their lands.
The Traditional Council of Mampong had earlier launched an anti-galamsey campaign to stop mining activities on their stool lands. Their strong stance against mining operations led to the withdrawal of an application provided by the Minerals Commission to Active Target Natural Resources limited to mine in the Mampong enclave.
Subsequently, the chiefs and people of Benim in the Mampong Municpality joined the call, vowing not to allow mining companies and individuals to destroy their farmlands which is their main source of livelihood.
With the Queen-mother of Benim Traditional area, Nana Gyamfua Nyarko III warning that any resident found engaging in the act will be banished.
Irene Pomaa Kumi
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