The Abusuapanyin of the Atronie Traditional Council, Omono Asamoah, has alleged that some landguards hired by illegal miners threatened the lives of community members during a planned visit to a galamsey site in the Bono Region.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Asamoah said the chiefs and residents were not comfortable joining the inspection team because they were not assured of adequate security protection throughout the exercise.
He explained that although security arrangements were made for the journey, the community was uncertain whether they would receive protection after leaving the main road and entering the mining area.
“We were supposed to meet the minister on the road and then go together to the galamsey site, but we were not sure about our security. We did not know whether they would take us there and bring us back safely,” he said.
According to him, some landguards at the site allegedly threatened to harm them, including cutting off their heads.
“They threatened us that they would cut our heads. The National Security officers were there, and we were asking ourselves whether in Ghana these guards had become more powerful than the national security,” he added.
Mr Asamoah questioned why individuals he described as landguards were allowed to determine who could accompany the minister to the site.
“A whole minister was going for a meeting, but these people were deciding who should join and who should not join, while the minister was there and nothing was done,” he said.
He alleged that the landguards, who were reportedly brought in by persons operating at the galamsey site, were armed and prevented some members of the inspection team from accessing the area.
“The macho landguards were holding guns. They allowed the minister’s vehicle to go to the site, but the soldiers’ vehicle and other cars following the minister, including ours, could not enter,” he claimed.
Mr Asamoah said the situation raises serious concerns about the safety of residents and chiefs who are engaging authorities to address the destruction caused by illegal mining.
The Atronie Traditional Council is calling on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene to halt illegal mining activities and protect the community’s environment before the situation reaches what they describe as irreversible traditional measures.
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