Residents of Akantansum new site, a suburb of kenyasi no. 2 in the Asutifi north district of the Ahafo region of Ghana are in danger over uncovered pits from the Galamsey activities and are demanding immediate action.
George Darko, an opinion leader who spoke with rawgist.com said residents have been living peacefully until the whole area was converted to a Galamsey(illegal mining) site.
“Since 2006, the galamseyers have troubled us with excessive noise, blasts of explosives, sound systems, theft , unbearable skin diseases etc ” he lamented.
According to Mr Darko, the residents heaved a sigh of relief when the president of the republic banned Galamsey completely.
“They have vacated the place alright as instructed but they left us with death traps; all their big and small pits were uncovered and now filled with water and reptiles in the middle of about 22 houses.” he cried
A walk around the area revealed many neglected equipments in the bushes, weeds all over and many pits left uncovered. Pits had caved in, enlarged and filled with water from the earth. The pits were also left unfenced; a state that posed grave danger.
Almost all the houses visited had been impacted by the activities of illegal mining with most of them showing cracks or whole portions broken off.
A resident, Abukari Bamba said they have been to the Asutifi north district Assembly, the chief’s palace, environmental officer etc to register their displeasure and to seek help but nothing has come out of it.
” The Assembly came once to fumigate the big pit against mosquitoes, but the reptiles keep visiting our homes” he added.
Papa Nii, a concerned citizen was spotted right close to the big uncovered pit holding sticks. He said, ” I have to stay here always to drive our children away and also to caution strangers who pass by daily” he explained.
“We are calling on the minister for environment, the Ahafo regional minister, Newmont Ghana, environmental protection agency,NGO’s on mining, all and sundry to come to our aid and rescue us from these death traps” Adjoa Asana pled on behalf of the women and children.
Source: rawgist.com