Angry residents of Kwahu Praso and its surrounding communities have launched arson attack at a mining site destroying mining equipment worth millions of Ghana Cedis.
The residents are agitating against the presence of Soon Mining company which they accuse of engaging in illegal mining.
The Assembly Member for the area, Anim Boateng Patrick, narrated to mybrytfmonline.com that, residents in Kwahu Praso and neighboring Asante Akyem Praso recently had an engagement with the Mining Company through stakeholders forum about their intention to begin mining in their concession in the communities but residents rejected the idea to mine in the area doubting that the company has legitimate documents.
He, however, said Soon mining company later brought an excavator to begin mining to their surprise adding that “so all six assembly members in the proposed mining areas summoned the said landowner alleged to have sold the area to the company. We summoned him to Kwahu Obohene and Subsequently Kwahumanhene. Later we heard that they were working. Some youth in Asante Akyem Praso went to attack them.”
The Assembly Member continued that” a colleague Assembly Member was arrested at the back of that attack but after granting him bail, we saw two Rhino trucks carting away mining equipment to the site. We went to the site fearing that the angry youth will set ablaze the mining equipment but while returning saw the angry youth have mounted barriers blocking the road”
He said it was later that information came that some of the youth have besieged the mining site to set ablaze two excavators, water pumping machines and some mining equipment.
He said Armed Police from Nkawkaw invaded the community to restore law and order.
Meanwhile, an Assembly Member has been arrested by Police for allegedly inciting the youth.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
