GALAMSEY BOOMS AT AMANSIE CENTRAL

…As Chinese Nationals Invade Forest

The Anchor can report, that the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region is turning into the headquarters of illegal mining activities, popularly called ‘galamsey’, in spite of relentless efforts by government to curb the menace.

This paper has established that the illegal mining activities is massively going on and seems to be getting out of hands, with impudent involvement of foreign nationals like Chinese among others, who were brought to the area by their Ghanaian accomplices.

A visit to the district on Friday, April 8, 2022 by correspondents of The Anchor witnessed hundreds of Chinese nationals together with their Ghanaian collaborators busily operating on farmlands without fear.

Mining communities, such as Romanso, Ataasi, Bepotintin, Mile 14, Fehiakobo, Abraso, Afoako Patase, Nansinmu, Hwiibaa, Faaman and Nyamebekyere have all been virtually taken over by the Chinese miners, whose illegal activities have also completely polluted river bodies in the area, as a result of the poisonous chemicals they use in washing the extracted gold.

At Kwankyeabo, many farmlands have been destroyed as a result of the illegal mining activities. Excavators, water pumping machines and other equipment were spotted being used various farmlands.

Stakeholders in the area however believe, some officials of the Amansie Central Assembly are complicit in the menace, because some taskforce from the Assembly have been collecting various sums of money from the illegal miners and in so doing, encourage them to carry on with their activities.

The monies collected by the taskforce ranging between GH₵12,000 and GH₵15000 being excavator and operations fee.

The same taskforce from the assembly, on the other hand, were also accused of going round galamsey sites to harass and allegedly extort money from the illegal miners, by using the name of the Assembly and the DCE, Michael Donkor. They, however, do not issued any official receipt after collecting such monies.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie Central, Michael Donkor, popularly called Kwaku Boadi, when contacted by The Anchor, confirmed the illegal mining activities; saying “the forest is being depleted and the lands destroyed”.

He, however, strongly denied his involvement or association with the illegal mining activities, stressing that, he will declare war against those involved after the Easter holiday.

But the DCE, Michael Donkor would not answer any further question by The Anchor relating to monies the Assembly’s taskforce has been allegedly collecting from these illegal miners.

“Why do you want to push me? Who set up the taskforce? Did I come to meet it or I set up the taskforce? I was not the one who formed it.  It has been formed long ago before I came…So, I’m only there to provide leadership. If there are changes to be made, we are yet to make it,” he stated.

Interestingly, the DCE was furious and rude towards the reporter on why the Assembly under his watch, will allow the taskforce to still take monies from the miners, when he knew their activities are illegal?

“You are talking about Chinese illegality, but you are talking about what the taskforce went to collect on behalf of the Assembly; and that is what you are interested in?”

“You are not interested in the illegality, the rate at which the land was destroyed. The forest is being depleted. But you are interested in the taskforce going to collect GH₵12,000?” he angrily quizzed.

He accused the reporter of being used by somebody to ask him questions with the intention to dent his image.

“Somebody is hiring you to ask question. I’ve asked you to come; if there is any explanation, I give you. So, come down, meet me in one-on-one and have a feel of me. I will direct you to go down there, meet them and speak to them. I will not speak to you to dent my image; because that’s the intention”.

According to him, he was only appointed as DCE just last year, therefore, cannot know of Chinese nationals mining on his land.

“How do I become aware that some Chinese are working on my land? I was appointed just last year, so how do I get to know of Chinese nationals mining on my land?

He later conceded that it could be possible some foreign nationals are working in the area.

“I cannot confirm that because I have never sighted any Chinese national there. But it could be possible that Chinese nationals are working over there”.

According to him,” I’m not Asamoah Boateng so if he is the one instigating you that you should go round, then you failed because you will not get me,” he told this reporter.

Meanwhile, the DCE has hinted that he would declare a war against illegal mining activities in the area after the Easter holiday.

According him, as far as he is concerned only two mining companies are doing legitimate operations under his jurisdiction and, therefore, others who did not show any documentations to his outfit about their operation will be dealt with.

“My brother, as far as I am concerned, there has never been any official concessionaire. So, any kind of activity relating to illegal mining, I ‘m not aware and never been part of it. I don’t have any relationship with anybody or whatsoever; because nobody has come to my office to show me documents indicating that he has been given a concession to mine apart from Gold Stone and Anglo-gold Ashanti,” he pointed out.

Mr Michael Donkor said, “I am told about some others but nobody has officially come to me showing me the documents covering his activities, So, I have also declared a war on them, I think after the Easter. So, I’m having my DISEC meetings and all these things have been tabled down and we are going to work on it”.

“But you see, issues of national to bla bla bla also got to do is the Ministry itself and the national task force because some of them are not under my powers and I’m limited in terms of security”.

He explained, “What I want to say is that, I do not have any hand in any form or any sort of activities going on so far as illegal mining is concerned. Nobody has come to my office to show me any document so when there’s any declaration of war on any of them, I will not drag anybody’s feet down because I don’t have any interest”.

“My only interest is that we have to safeguard our environment, we have to protect our environment. So, for me, I am not part of it and anybody that dares to drag my name into any of this illegality will be dealt with”, he stated.

More To Come…

Source: anchorghana.com