The Atronie Traditional Council has strongly criticised the Bono Regional Security Council (REGSEC) over its handling of illegal mining activities affecting the Amoma River, accusing the regional body of failing to take decisive action to halt the destruction of the community’s primary source of drinking water.
In a statement to the public, the chiefs and people of Atronie expressed dissatisfaction with REGSEC’s conclusions following a recent inspection of an alleged illegal mining site at Jinijini, a farming community in the Atronie area.
According to the Traditional Council, the response from the security authorities does not match the urgency of the environmental damage caused by the mining operations.
The statement noted that REGSEC members witnessed severe pollution of the Amoma River, destruction of farmlands and extensive environmental degradation during their visit.
However, instead of immediately stopping the mining activities, the council reportedly instructed the operators to submit their licences and other relevant documents while work continued.
The chiefs described the decision as unacceptable, arguing that each additional day of mining worsens river pollution and causes further damage to the surrounding environment.
They also questioned what they described as contradictions in the position of regional authorities, recalling that the Bono Regional Minister had previously indicated that legitimate mining operators should already have submitted the necessary documentation to his office.
According to the Traditional Council, requesting the same operators to provide documents after they had already been declared questionable undermines confidence in efforts to combat illegal mining.
The council also raised concerns about the presence of heavily armed individuals allegedly protecting the mining sites. Residents claim these armed men intimidate farmers and prevent them from accessing their lands.
The chiefs criticised REGSEC’s recommendation that such security personnel should simply be properly authorised, insisting that anyone carrying weapons unlawfully should instead be arrested and prosecuted.
The Traditional Authority further rejected suggestions that the matter stems from a land dispute involving neighbouring traditional areas.
It insisted that the issue has always been the destruction of the Amoma River through illegal mining and accused REGSEC of diverting attention from the environmental crisis.
