The Municipal Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya in the Ashanti Region, Michael Amoah Awuku, has through his representative tasked Corporate Institutions to fulfill social responsibilities in the communities they operate to ensure economic stability as residents suffer most when disruption occurs.
Following a petition from Residents of Hiawu-Besease to the Assembly seeking compensation from Asawus Quarry Ltd over losses, their activities have brought the township.
The citizens argued that the quarry company blast without warning them and as a result have wrecked their farms, water bodies, roads et al.
Reports say Atwima Nwabiagya municipal Nadmo visited the town to check the affected farmlands when they received distress call from the dwellers concerning the havoc and subsequently urged the Assembly to step in.
Prior to this, the Assembly invited the Asawus quarry company CEO to address the issue but in attendance today was the PRO of the institution, so after few dialogues the Assembly postponed the meeting insisting, the Owner must be at the next meeting to resolve the problems or face their wrath.
In attendance were Mr. I.K. Acheampong, Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Co-ordinating Director; Hon Nana Osei Tutu, Assembly Member for Hiawu-Besease electoral area, Security agencies and some of the affected farmers.
The representative of the MCE, Mr. I.K. Acheampong used the recourse to charged Asawus Quarry Ltd to support Hiawu-Besease citizens as they are in dilemma.
“It’s the responsibility of the Assembly to ensure development, peace, and stability in the municipality but we all know two heads are better than one. I’m calling on the Institutions that operate in Atwima Nwabiagya, for instance, Quarry companies, et al to know they have corporate social responsibilities such as helping the Assembly to fix the roads they ply.
Admonishing them to also “Provide boreholes to the towns in crisis and sort the needs of Hiawu-Besease residents as the dust from their blasting is causing severe damages to their health.”
John Hawkson Anane, who doubles as the Presiding Member and Assembly Member for Nerebehi electoral area also added his voice, asserting the engagement was essential hence entreats the Asawus Quarry Ltd to support the farmers else failure will be tantamount to harsh procedures.
“You can’t just enter somebody’s house to eat and leave peacefully without asking permission. When the Quarry company came to the community, they were supposed to meet the Assembly and sign a memorandum of understanding before operating but they did no such thing so we are imploring them to do the needful else we will take actions against them”.
Some of the affected inhabitants who are farmers in an interview with Boss Fm Silas Mensah said; “the Asawus Quarry Ltd activities have destroyed our properties, we can’t go to the farms for fear of losing our lives”.
A resident who happens to be a caretaker of farmland also said, “It’s been two years that we’ve been facing this problem. When they blast it destroys our farms, houses, and roads yet when we complain they disregard our plea. I met with the Boss and asked him to find a place for us to stay so that it won’t kill us, but he said they don’t build for anyone, rather they compensate those who have been hit by the stone”.
Another resident who is a pensioner stated, “I used to harvest 10 bags of cocoa but because the quarry has spoilt our farms, now I harvest only 2 bags of cocoa yearly”.