The youth of Akyem Asuom in the Kwaebibirem municipality of Eastern region have angrily stormed about five illegal mining (galamsey) sites located within their community and stopped the illegal miners activities which have polluted all their water bodies, crops and farm lands.
According to the youth of Akyem Asuom, they have given several warnings to the illegal miners (galamseyers) to halt their activities because they have caused huge destructions to their farm lands, crop and water bodies of which should they continue would get to a time the people of Akyem Asuom wouldn’t get any fertile lands to farm again in future.
The youth alleged that all the mining companies causing destruction in their community hold only prospecting licences which doesn’t permit them to mine but they have mined without anyone being able to stop them.
They further alleged that, some of their own traditional leaders are backing the miners and hence, stopping their dreadful work has become very difficult because the illegal miners according to the youth have been giving some of their traditional leaders money so they shield them to continue their illegal mining activities.
They have therefore called on government to as a matter of urgency halt the unlawful activities of the galamseyers in the Akyem Asuom community because they would not have a better future should they allow them to continue destroying all their farm lands and water bodies.
They concluded by cautioning that should government fail to stop the galamsey activities in their community, they will find their own way out and force the galamseyers to move out from their community.
Meanwhile, the Krontihene of Akyem Asuom, Nana Boadi Amponim Abodade III has backed the youth call to government halting the galamsey activities in their community because he confirmed, it has indeed caused huge destruction to their water bodies and farm lands.
He also added that, he has single handedly tried all possible means to stop the galamsey activities in the community when he was installed as the Krontihene of Akyem Asuom but all efforts have failed.
