Some residents of Chirano in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region have totally rejected a proposed community mining initiative in the area by a private company.
The residents have therefore held a press conference to prevent any move to mine in the area, asserting that their farmlands and only source of water could be destroyed.
The press conference is said to be a response to an alleged move by some government officials who are insisting that the project ought to begin since it is a government initiative.
The residents have cautioned the company not to attempt any move to start operations to incur their outrage.
Speaking to the media, after the press conference, Mr. S. N. Benieh, the convener and secretary to the Chirano Community, indicated that the proposed community mining scheme would adversely affect their farming activities and the Subri River in the area.
He explained that in December last year, there was a meeting at the Omanhene’s palace during which it was made known that the mining company was about to start a community mining project in Chirano.
He said at that meeting, it was made clear that the residents did not like community mining in any form.
“However, later we heard that the company held a closed-door meeting with some opinion leaders and the media to explain how it plans to begin the project in the area.
“But we still insist that we do not want to see mining in our community to destroy our water bodies and cocoa farms,” he stated.
He continued, “Most of the water bodies in Western North have been destroyed by illegal miners under the guise of community mining. We can’t allow our cocoa farms, plantains, and cocoyam farms also to go to waste.”
Some of the angry residents also argued that community mining, when allowed in the community, will have a negative effect on their social and cultural lives, which will be worse than the economic gains they will allegedly accrue from such activity.
“The adverse effect of mining seen across the areas where such activities take place does not encourage us to give out our farmlands,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the company which intends to begin the community mining project in the area has denied all the allegations leveled by the leaders of the community.
Manager of Boawoman Cooperative Mining, John Bediako, in an interview with 3news, said he believes that the press conference was held because of some chieftaincy issues in the area.
“There are some chieftaincy issues in this area, and I believe one of the factions was behind the press conference. We are a legal entity, and we will do responsible mining when we start operations,” he noted.
