Clad in red, scores of angry residents of Danso, a community in the Bosome Freho district demonstrated against the surge of illegal mining in the area on November 21, 2023.
Government’s attempt to halt illegal mining and provide an alternative has given birth to the Community Mining Project, set-up in several mining communities.
24 hours to the commissioning of another Community Mining at Danso, residents fear the siting of the mine will have a negative impact on the environment, especially their places of abode.
They have cited the Dan River as an obvious target. “If the mining project is allowed to continue “the Dan river is our only source of water, we cannot allow a mine to be set close to the river” an angry resident told 3news.com.
In October, 2022, the President was petitioned over an alleged involvement of the former District Chief Executive, Yaw Danso engaging in illegal mining. It took a year for the Jubilee House to investigate. Yaw Danso was relieved of his post. His sack letter cited “serious allegation of galamsey.”
Another resident who took part in Tuesday’s demonstration claimed “almost all our farms are gone due to illegal mining, we won’t accept any mining here. If they attempt, then they will have to kill all of us.”
Officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are yet to comment on the development.