Manso Tontokrom youth block military from mining site

Youth in Manso Tontokrom, Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, staged a tense overnight protest to prevent military personnel from accessing a local mining site.

The youth, numbering over 100, blocked the main entry road to the community, burning tires and chanting, as a show of resistance.

Around 50 military officers who arrived were unable to enter and eventually withdrew without confrontation.

Protest leader Richmond Osei told the media that the community has engaged in mining on the land for decades and won’t surrender it to foreign-backed companies.

He claimed the youth are engaged in legal community mining and accused large-scale operator Asanko Mines of using military force to intimidate locals.

“Asanko has been here for years, yet there’s no development to show no jobs, no roads. We won’t allow them to take over our land,” Osei stated.

He recalled a deadly clash last year that claimed the lives of a community member and two soldiers, but insisted this time the protest was peaceful.

To reinforce their message, the youth invoked local deities pouring schnapps and offering eggs and fowls to curse those they believe are behind the attempted military takeover.

The protest ended without violence, and calm has since returned to the community. Residents have resumed normal activities, but tensions over the land dispute remain high.

The youth are also calling on the government to step in and resolve the issue permanently.