The Atronie Traditional Council has accused the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, of failing to act on repeated warnings about illegal mining activities in the community, saying the delayed response has allowed galamsey to destroy the area’s main water source and livelihoods.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Nkosuohene of the Atronoe Stool Lands, Nana Krampah Hagan said the traditional authorities first alerted Mr. Akwaboa, about the illegal mining operations on April 2, but their concerns were not acted upon despite several attempts to engage him.
According to him, the miners have continued to operate with impunity, leaving the community to bear the devastating consequences.
“Galamsey is causing a lot of devastation, but if you act on it swiftly, the impact can be reduced.”
He explained that the traditional leaders initially approached the Minister because the illegal mining activities were polluting the community’s main source of water for domestic use and farming.
“The Atronie chief went to the Regional Minister to alert him about the galamsey operations on April 2, and a week later we wanted to meet him a third time, but he told us he was not available.”
“We informed him because the mining was destroying our major source of water for domestic use and farming activities. He has watched on and now the impact is devastating,” he stated.
Nana Krampah Hagan alleged that despite these warnings, the Minister failed to take decisive action, allowing the destruction to worsen.
The Nkosuohene further claimed that the Minister had earlier indicated he had not received any formal documentation regarding the mining activities, prompting him to arrange a visit to the site.
However, he alleged that the Minister’s team was prevented from accessing the area by armed men believed to be protecting the illegal miners.
“He invited us to the site, but we were prevented from entering by suspected armed landguards. We met them on the land. They are not security personnel or a task force because when NAIMOS came to the community, they officially introduced themselves, but the Minister appeared helpless,” he said.
He said the Minister’s delegation, which included police officers and military personnel, was also unable to gain access.
“The Regional Minister had about six to eight policemen and about six soldiers, but their vehicles were not even allowed to enter.”
Nana Krampah stressed that the traditional authorities have no reason to make false allegations, insisting their only concern is the survival of the community.
“We have no reason to lie against the Minister because the situation is worrying.”
He also disclosed that officials from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) later visited the community to assess the situation but were similarly denied access by the armed men.
“BNI came to meet the traditional authorities and decided to visit the site, but these armed men denied them entry.”
The Nkosuohene questioned why, despite these incidents, the Regional Minister has yet to publicly identify those behind the illegal mining activities or explain why the operations have continued unchecked.
According to him, the illegal miners remain active and continue to intimidate residents by firing gunshots, while residents continue to suffer
“As I talk now, they are still actively operating and firing gunshots to scare and intimidate residents.”
He described the environmental destruction as catastrophic, saying the community’s water bodies have been severely polluted and aquatic life wiped out.
“All the fishes are dead, so you can imagine the magnitude.”
Nana Krampah appealed to the government and the relevant security agencies to intervene immediately, warning that further delays could cause irreversible damage to the environment and the livelihoods of residents who depend on the affected water bodies.
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