Community Miners in Tepa Nfante community in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti region have registered their displeasure over the arrest and killing of their members by the police and forestry guards.
They have therefore issued a 2-day ultimatum to government to call the police and the forestry guards to order or face their wrath.
The spokesperson of the group, Romeo Kwabena Amoateng gave the ultimatum at a press conference at the Nfante community mining site. According to him the group wants government to clarify the President’s directives to the police and the forestry guards which is whether or not the president ordered the forestry commission and the police to arrest and burn equipments at the site.
Mr. Kwabena Amoateng revealed that they are not mining on water bodies and accused the Chief Executive Officer CEO of Ensuro Mining company of being behind the act with the support of some political figures.
He expressed the group’s displeasure over attacks on them by the police and forestry guards.
The community miners further accused the police and forestry guards of arresting and killing of their members while their equipment was set on fire despite they operating legally.
He revealed that the community mining has created jobs for over 2,000 people in the area and it has stimulate Local economic activities, reduced poverty among the people in the area and promoted sustainable socio-economic development while protecting the environment.
Mr. Kwabena Amoateng stated that the use of the forestry guards to harass their members was not one of the measures agreed on during the Commission of the Nfante community mines.
He added that one excavator and several pieces of mining equipment valued at millions of cedis have been burnt at the site of their members in the Mfante community.