At Shai Ologo, a town near Tumuso Krobo in the Kwaebibirem municipality of the Eastern Region, a mining company has taken over the community with armed security men, some in military uniform, for resisting the company’s attempt to mine on their farms.
According to the residents, the company invaded their community about two months ago to do prospecting which they resisted. However, the said company returned and started degrading people’s cocoa farms.
When the residents were informed of the development one Sunday morning and rushed to the farms, the armed security threatened to shoot them if they dared approach.
A resident who spoke on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye, Friday, July 19, 2024, with Yaa Titi Okrah, narrated how the entire townsfolk were terrorised by the security men with guns on Thursday, July 18, beating some of the residents to pulp, including her uncle.
“About two months ago they came to the elders of our community to prospect for gold and our leaders said no. They left and one Sunday, we were at church when we were informed that they were on our land prospecting. They were wielding guns and threatened to shoot us if we ventured.
“But they later told our elders it wasn’t our land they were sent to so it was a mistake and they backed off. They later returned to the place and our elders insisted they back off. But they said whether we liked it or not, they were going to prospect.
They destroyed someone’s cocoa farm and later said it was a mistake. Then they said they want to use the man’s farm for a road to mine at another place. Then the man gave up because his farm had been destroyed already.
“They later came with a bulldozer to grade down people’s farms. When the guys said they won’t allow that, they brought macho men with guns and beat the townsfolk when they said they have taken over the lands. They arrested some of the men who protested to the Akwatia police command but they discharged them. The ‘machomen‘ (well built) have left but whenever we question their actions, then they bring security to come and attack us,” the anonymous lady narrated in Twi on Onua Maakye.
When the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Alexander Agyare, was contacted, he denied knowledge of the development saying he was going to reach out to the District Chief Executive to find out those behind such heinous acts.
“I was in the constituency last week and I’m here at the moment but I haven’t received any such information. They are a farming community and I am not aware of any legal mining company mining in the community. I will contact the DCE to find out if there is anything like that so that we ensure peace prevail,” he assured.
Meanwhile, he denied ever having links with one of the security personnel who attacked the community per an allegation that was made by some of the people.
“I have only one security who is now even dead and I’m with their family now arranging for his final funeral rites. I have no private security so I don’t know anything about the ongoing incident so the said security claiming to be associated with me is false,” he clarified.
