By Isaac Amoah

Tension is currently mounting in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality, especially at Manfo, Subrisu and Mfante, over the alleged harassment by the security guards of the Forestry Commission, among other state security agencies, on miners at community mining sites.

r. Akowuah Samuel , spokesperson addressing the media

According to them, as a result of the harassment and intimidation by state security agencies, two of their colleagues were recently allegedly killed by forest guards, whilst two of their members are still being detained by the police.

The irate youth in the Manfo, Subrisu and Mfante communities, all in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region, on Monday,15th January 2024, held a press conference to register their displeasure at the continued silence of the government over the incident.

They have, therefore, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to immediately come out clearly to let them know their fate with regard to community mining.

They have urged the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to call state security agencies to order to stop harassing them at the community mining sites, else they should prepare for their anger.

Some scenes from the site

According to them, the MCE, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who also is one of the leading contenders in the NPP parliamentary primaries in the area, among other top officials in the area, should intervene to ensure peace.

The spokesperson for over 2,000 irate miners,
Mr. Akowuah Samuel, who doubles as NPP polling station chairman at Manfo and chairman for the mining site, revealed that the community mining was officially commissioned by Mr. Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining, in the presence of Madam Matina Nyantakyi, the MCE for the area, chiefs and the people in the area to serve as employment for the youth on Tuesday,15th December 2021.

According to him, since then they have been working at the site approved by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources without flouting any rule or regulation guiding mining.

Unfortunately, state security personnel, including the police, military and forestry guards, continue to harass their members at the site.

Mr. Akowuah said “few days ago, two of our members were shot dead by the forestry guards, and as if that was not enough, recently five of our members, including an NPP polling station chairman at Subrisu, were also arrested, and they are still in the custody of the security personnel.
We don’t even know their whereabouts.”

“The military personnel continue to harass us at the community mining site without any tangible reason. We were made to believe that this area is a community mining site approved by government to give us jobs. And we know that we are working in a legitimate community mining site as the only source of employment for the youth in the area but, unfortunately, we cannot rest in the hands of the state security agencies over constant harassment,” he added.

He continued, “We are signaling the government and the stakeholders to urgently stop whoever is behind the unlawful attacks on us, else we may be forced to act in the same manner which has the potential to cause bloodshed, a situation we want to avoid.

“If the government fails to heed our call, we will stage a non-stop demonstration against all government officials and state agencies until they hear our concerns and address them amicably.”

On his part, Mr. Amoateng Kwabena, one of the speakers at the press conference, also expressed worry over the stress and psychological trauma especially the women had been going through as a result of intimidation and harassment by the military and other security agencies.

According to him, the youth, especially females in the area, would not get it easy if they were stopped from going to the community mining site.