Banka Chiefs, Youth Charged Over Community Mining; Issues Ultimatum

…Issues Ultimatum To Government

The chiefs and people of Banka in the Asante Akyem south municipality of the Ashanti Region, are up in arms, appealing to the government to launch its flagship Community Mining Scheme project in the area to create jobs.

The community, led by the traditional leaders, believe the project if established will reduce rising unemployment among the youth and also save the environment from the activities of illegal mining, popularly called ‘Galamsey’.

Addressing the media at Asante Banka on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Nifahene of Banka, Obibinisebroni Nana Kwakye Swanzy IV, together with the Krotihene, Ohuatreni Acheampong and the Benkumhene, Nana Osei Ababio, appealed to the government to listen to their plea and launch the project to avoid issues of robbery and criminal acts by the youth.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Juaso MCE, MP, NPP government, Minerals Commission that as an area, we have been blessed with resources so we are telling these leaders to ensure that by the end of this month, they come and launch the Community Mining”.

They said, the youth are unemployed and suffering – a situation which is worrying for them as elders.

“The Community Mining is what we want to have in this area. We can take the law into our hands and privately mine but that will mean that we have broken the law. There are neighbouring towns they can join us so that the youth can find something to do to avoid robbery and other criminal acts,” they lament.

They indicated that, “When we are employed, our wives can have some peace of mind. When there is small scale mining, women can do their selling because when mining is happening here business will boom”.

They dismissed claims of tension in the area as the reason why launching of the project, is being delayed.

“If the was the reason, then we are saying that is not true. The whole of Asante Akyem, the most peaceful place is Banka. Everyone that comes here to do cocoa farming do so in a peaceful environment. The settlers are backing the indigenes to make this passionate appeal to the government that there is no problem in this area, so we are ready to accept anyone that the government will grant permit to mine here to get us busy”.

They said, residents have been looking forward to have small scale mining in this community for quite long and therefore, government should allow anyone with necessary documents to come and mine.

Nifahere of Banka, Nana Kwakye Swanzy IV, on his part said the community accepted the initiative, because the traditional leaders do not want galamsey at Banka.

Narrating the reason for their appeal, the Nifahere, said “One day, the youth thronged the palace to ask that we support them in their quest to get government to launch the Community Mining for the unemployed youth. We agreed because they are subjects so we went to the Assembly to tell them what the youth want”.

“The assembly agreed and it was put on paper that anyone that wants to come and mine, we will support them. We were later approached by some people so we endorsed the request to mine and asked that they go to the Minerals Commission to do the necessary documentations as we have no power above government.

So, we have played our role and I think all that was needed to be done has been completed by the people who came to us. I have seen that they have put up offices and structures,” he said.

According to him, “as chiefs, if the youth are employed, we can have our peace of mind”.

 Source: Anchorghana.com