Ayamfuri youth take over Perseus Mining Company concession
Residents of Ayamfuri in the Upper Denkyira District in the Central Region have taken over and intensified their illegal mining (galamsey) activities on the concession of Perseus Mining Company.
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The residents claimed that they resorted to this move “ to avenge the failure of the company to cede its Heap Leach to the community; a situation they said had created unemployment in the area.
They contended that the company could not keep to its promise to employ the youth on the mine when it started mining in the area.
The community members, through their spokesperson, Mr Godfred Kwakye, an assemblyman for Ayamfuri, last week appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to impress on the company to cede the Heap Leach to them.
But before their request could be considered, the youth, numbering more than 500, moved into the concession with generators, water pumping machines and water hoses to engage in illegal mining.
When journalists on a fact-finding mission arrived at the concession last Thursday, the youth were busy undertaking their activities.
Drama
Drama unfolded when news went round that journalists were in the forest to cover the activities. Scores of the youth, wielding cutlasses and other dangerous implements, threatened to attack them if they did not leave the concession immediately.
Calm, however, returned after the leadership of the youth intervened and explained to them that their anger should not be directed at the journalists since they were there only to do their work.
Earlier, the management of Perseus, at a press conference, denied media reports that the company did not live up to its social responsibility.
Social responsibility
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the company, Mr Edwin Allottey Acquaye, who addressed the press conference, said the company had done a lot to promote skills development and given scholarships to more than 90 students to study various vocations in basic and tertiary institutions.
He said the company had also compensated the community with houses, churches and schools.
Currently, Mr Acquaye explained, the company had established a trust with seed money of GH¢2.5 million and recently approved three major projects including the extension of potable water to the Ayamfuri community.
He condemned the behaviour of the youth, saying “it is unacceptable to use the pretext of lack of employment to go and damage the environment. This is an illegality.”
Mr Acquaye said the company had reported the incident to the district chief executive of the area, the regional minister and the National Security and were awaiting their response.