The chiefs and people of Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region have threatened to invoke the wrath of their local deity against illegal miners if authorities fail to act on the destruction caused by galamsey activities in the community.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Abusuapanyin of the Atronie Traditional Area, Omono Asamoah, said traditional authorities have exhausted all legal avenues but have received little response from state institutions responsible for addressing the issue.
He said although Atronie was once associated with violence, the community has deliberately chosen the path of peace and lawful engagement in dealing with challenges.
“In the past, Atronie had a bad name, but times have changed and we no longer want that reputation. When it comes to violence, Atronie can do that, but what do we gain by shedding blood? That is why we have decided to be law-abiding,” he said.
Mr Asamoah explained that the chiefs had reported the activities of illegal miners to the Police, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly and other relevant authorities, but claimed little action had been taken to halt the operations.
He said the continued inaction has forced traditional leaders to consider spiritual intervention as a last resort.
“We are going to invoke the assistance and anger of our local deity to stop the galamseyers, and that will be disastrous,” he warned.
Mr Asamoah expressed concern that illegal mining activities are destroying farmlands, crops, forests and water bodies, particularly the Amoma River, which serves as the community’s main source of drinking water.
He said excavators, changfan machines, mining equipment and makeshift camps have taken over illegal mining sites at Jinijini, while access roads created by miners have cut through farms and caused extensive damage to agricultural lands.
“Our river has been polluted, our farmlands are being destroyed and our forest is disappearing. We have reported this to the authorities, but nothing has happened. If the government does not act, we will have no option but to invoke the wrath of our deity,” he stressed.
The Abusuapanyin welcomed the government’s renewed efforts to tackle illegal mining, citing the conviction of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as a sign of President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to the fight against galamsey.
The Atronie traditional authorities are calling on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene to halt illegal mining activities and protect the community’s environment before they resort to what they describe as irreversible traditional measures.
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