<<Print>>

The people of Gwirabanso community in Evalue Gwira in the Western Region of Ghana have accused the Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Aarea, Awulae Tu-AgyanAngama of aiding the illegal activities of Chinese miners in on their land.

The people who waited with baited breath to see whether their many petitions and pleas would be adhered to seem disappointed in the authorities and the chiefs for reneging on their responsibilities as far as the protection of the rights of the indigenous people were concern.

In what can be described as brewing tension in the area, the people, who declared their disappointment in the Omanhene of Gwira Traditional area, Awulae Tu-AgyanAngama.

According to the people, even though efforts are being made to ensure that the activities of illegal Chinese miners were stopped on their lands, Awulae Tu-Agyan Angama is also pulling strings at the other end granting undue permits to these miners to operate.

They said, the continue stay of the Chinese in the area was questionable; hence the decision by the people to investigate the development which they indicated led to AwulaeTu-AgyanAngama.

They alleged that, the Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area Awulae Tu-Agyan Angama and one Simon Emerson have travelled to China on their own to negotiate a deal with some Chinese nationals, brought them into the communities to do the mining.

They also alleged that both the Omanhene and Simon Emerson after succeeding in bringing the Chinese and granting them the opportunity to mine against the wish of the people are benefiting immensely from the activities of these Chinese miners.

The people of Gwirabanso have recently been saddled with the many negative effects of the mining activities on their lands and have raised serious concerns to that effect.

The community has suffered extremely in the hands of the Chinese miners who allow their pits uncovered. This mostly resulted in the deaths of majority of people, especially children in the area.

The land has been degraded and no attempt is made by the miners to restore the land making it very difficult for residents to use the land for other venture.

Gwirabanso residents averred that illegal mining activities pose a major security threat to the community and that the operations of illegal miners in the region had significantly damaged theenvironment and polluted major rivers bodies.

The residents who have expressed their concerns indicated that he refusal lackadaisical attitude of the Omanhene towards their concerns is a clear case of betrayal since the Gwirabanso communities fall under Gwira Traditional Area.

They are appealing to the Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area to reconsider his steps and turn to his people, defend them against the Chinese and desist from pursuing his parochial interest.

However, when the Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area, Awulae Tu-Agyan Angama was contacted he denied the claims and said he has never taken any money from the Chinese as alleged adding that he rather led by the elders of the Traditional Council have written petition to the Minister for actions to be taken against the Chinese nationals but no response has come yet.