Residents of Chirano in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region have voiced strong opposition to plans for a community mining project being promoted by a private company.
At a press conference, the community raised concerns that the project could threaten their livelihoods by damaging farmlands and polluting their sole water source.
They explained that their decision to speak out was prompted by information that some government officials are urging the project to go ahead on the grounds that it is a government-supported initiative.
Community members warned the company against attempting to begin operations, cautioning that such a move would be strongly resisted.
Speaking to the media after the press conference, the convener and secretary of the Chirano Community, Mr S. N. Benieh, said the proposed mining scheme would negatively affect local farming activities and threaten the Subri River.
He explained that during a meeting held at the Omanhene’s palace in December last year, residents were informed of plans to start a community mining project in Chirano.
At that meeting, he said, the community made it clear that it does not support community mining in any form.
“However, later we heard that the company held a closed-door meeting with some opinion leaders and the media to explain how it plans to begin the project in the area.
“But we still insist that we do not want to see mining in our community to destroy our water bodies and cocoa farms,” he stated.
He continued, “Most of the water bodies in Western North have been destroyed by illegal miners under the guise of community mining. We can’t allow our cocoa farms, plantains, and cocoyam farms also to go to waste.”
Some of the angry residents also argued that community mining, when allowed in the community, will have a negative effect on their social and cultural lives, which will be worse than the economic gains they will allegedly accrue from such activity.
“The adverse effect of mining seen across the areas where such activities take place does not encourage us to give out our farmlands,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the company which intends to begin the community mining project in the area has denied all the allegations leveled by the leaders of the community.
Manager of Boawoman Cooperative Mining, John Bediako, in an interview said he believes that the press conference was held because of some chieftaincy issues in the area.
“There are some chieftaincy issues in this area, and I believe one of the factions was behind the press conference. We are a legal entity, and we will do responsible mining when we start operations,” he noted.
