Hundreds of residents from four communities in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have staged a demonstration against a local quarry company over alleged damage to property and health concerns linked to its operations.
Residents of Amoamo, Anwiam, Adankragya and Amenase, dressed in red and black, took to the streets to protest what they described as the negative impact of Day Shine Quarry’s activities on their livelihoods.
The demonstrators, led by the Assembly Member for the Adankragya Electoral Area, Nhyiraba Abigail, alleged that the company’s operations have resulted in the destruction of farms, buildings and other household properties.
They also claimed that affected residents have not received any compensation for the alleged damages.
“The constant blasting has left cracks in our buildings, rendered farmlands unproductive, and exposed us to respiratory illnesses. The excessive dust from the operations poses serious health risks and is making life unbearable,” Nhyiraba Abigail said.
She added that several complaints submitted to the company and relevant authorities, including the previous local assembly administration, had not yielded any meaningful results.
At the quarry site, she called on management to suspend operations and engage affected communities within one week, warning that failure to do so could lead to further protests.
Security personnel were deployed at strategic points along the protest route to ensure a peaceful demonstration and facilitate the submission of the petition to the relevant authorities.
Some residents also appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene and help resolve the matter.
“We are not against the operations, but the quarry firm is being unfair to us and has failed to adhere to standard procedures. They blast without informing us, and it is causing us problems with dust and flying chippings,” resident Kwame Owusu said.
A representative of Day Shine Quarry Company, Isaac Padi, who received the concerns from the residents, assured them that steps would be taken to address the issues raised.
The Bekwai Municipal Assembly and the Adankragya Traditional Council also received the petition and assured residents that measures would be taken to protect their health and the environment.
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