Adansihene warns against illegal mining
The Adansihene, Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II, has warned sub-chiefs in Adansi not to make it easy for illegal mining, also known as galamsey, to thrive in the area. He said he would personally deal ruthlessly with any chief who would facilitate illegal mining on Adansi lands.
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Nana Bonsra Afriyie gave the warning in support of an earlier one issued by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who promised to ensure that chiefs who fell foul to the law were dealt with.
The Adansihene and the security agencies in the area have recently come together and embarked on a campaign to flush out galamsey operators. The move, which has the support of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), has seen the mining firm donate a four-wheel Toyota Hilux pickup vehicle to the chief to facilitate his activities.
The pickup is just one of many support packages the AGA is giving to Nana Afriyie II in his efforts to evict illegal miners who have encroached on some concessions of the company.
The Head of Operations and acting Managing Director of AGA, Fred Nsarko, expressed concern that even after the company had given out 60 per cent of its 633sq km concession to the community, galamsey operators were still encroaching on the 40 per cent of the company’s land that was left.
He said the activities of the galamsey operators were dwindling the fortunes of the company and putting the future of the mines in danger.
The Adansihene urged the AGA to consider reserving a quota of its employment to qualified indigenes from the area when operations of the mines bounces back.
After shutting down the old mines at Obuasi, the AGA moved upstream and has currently stopped production.
But despite its current predicament, the company is still keeping faith with the communities where it operates and is supporting them with the basic necessities of life.
Last month, the company, in partnership with Project Cure, an American-based non-profit organisation, presented a number of medical equipment to the AGA Health Foundation (AGAHF) and the Obuasi Government Hospital.