The Gangway Co-operative Mining Chairman of Aboso, Sofo Osman Dauda, has led calls for government intervention over mining concessions in Bompieso and Aboso.
He wants President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, to stop what he described as attempts by Global Ore Industry to take over concessions belonging to the people of the two communities in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Dauda said the people do not want to take the law into their own hands but are demanding urgent government action to protect their livelihoods.
“We’re calling on the President, John Dramani Mahama, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah and all other leaders of the country to intervene for the people of Bompieso and Aboso and halt all attempts by Global Ore Industry to take over our mining concessions,” he said.
“We don’t want to take the law into our own hands and act recklessly,” Mr. Dauda added.
He alleged that the Chinese-owned Global Ore Industry, which he said took over after the previous NPP government designated the area as a community mining zone, has now taken jobs meant for locals.
“The former NPP government came to make it community mining and the Global Ore Industry who are Chinese have now taken our jobs. A foreigner is not supposed to involve in community mining,” he stated.
Mr. Dauda argued that if the former administration was able to convert the concessions into community mining, then the people of Bompieso and Aboso deserve the same consideration through cooperative mining.
“If the former NPP administration was able to turn it into community mining, then we the people of Bompieso and Aboso also deserve co-operative mining,” he said.
He was supported at the press conference by the Aboso ward B chairman of NDC, Dela buda who said government policy should prioritize Ghanaians first in small-scale mining.
“This is not about politics. This is about the welfare of the citizens. These Chinese have taken our jobs. Co-operative mining is not illegal,” Buda stated.
Buda further alleged that those who led the Chinese to the area should be held accountable.
“The person who led the Chinese here and handed the mining job to them should be held responsible. The Chinese should look for that person and demand their money back,” he said.
Mr. Dauda and Buda later presented a copy of their statement to Nana Kwesi Appiah II, Chief of Aboso. The Chief reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the jobs of citizens in the municipality.
According to him, the land belongs to the gods and government cannot just allow anybody to come and mine on their land without the consent of the people.
He pledged to work with stakeholders to ensure the youth of Prestea Huni Valley are protected.
Mr. Dauda said residents of Bompieso and Aboso are expected to add their voices in the coming days as the community pushes for government intervention.
He called on government to ensure that mining in the area benefits the local people and is done in accordance with Ghana’s mining laws.
