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The ongoing irresponsible gold mining activities by illegal miners in Prestea and its adjoining communities in the Huni-Valley District of the Western region is currently building intense tension in the communities

Information gathered from Prestea indicates that majority of people who own concessions within the community are facing tough times dealing with the covetous nature of the ‘so-called’ Small Scale Miners Association members who are allegedly frustrating legitimate concession owners.

There is an allegation that the Association, through the help and support from the Prestea District Police Commander, is unduly taking over concessions that belong to other people who are not necessarily members of their Association.

Speaking to people whose concessions have been encroached upon by the Association, they lamented that the situation was worrying since the small scale miners were destroying the land.

“I am protecting my concession for the future. But I have seen that the Association had taken over and is mining on the concession without even having permit or ownership to the land. I have all documents to my concession and don’t understand why the Association and the Police Commander are bent on destroying my concession,” a concession owner said.

With their activities and its attendant effects on the land and the community as a whole, the minister of lands and natural resources, who was in the community caused the seizure of equipment and machines belonging to the Association members which were being used to mine.

However, this paper gathered that few days after the seizure of the machines, members of the Association defied all orders from the minister asking them to stop the illegal mining on those concessions.

In expressing their defiance which many people said was not in order, the leadership of Small Scale Miners Association in Prestea held a press conference accusing the minister and the Minerals Commission of teaming up with legitimate concession owners to seize their equipment.

Information received regarding the clamp-down on illegal activities in Prestea indicates that two persons—Fosu and Lion—who are known lead persons when it comes to galamseyactivities in the area, were arrested but are currently on bail.

Meanwhile the arrest of Fosu and Lion has generated some confusion in the community with the youth especially, demonstrating against the decision by the minister.

They also threatened to kill the owners of the concession on which they were operating before the arrest.

Against this backdrop, concession owners called on the minister, minerals commission and the IGP to look into the activities of the Association and the police in the community since their interference in matters such as the one at hand was inflaming passions.

They also called on the district police command to stay away from their lands.

A tour to Prestea established that the Association members and other small scale miners in the area were using mercury in extracting gold small miners sell to prospective buyers who intend trade the precious mineral to gold companies.

Although government has not regulated the use of mercury by small scale miners, the Association continues to use it to the detriment of the people and the community.

However, EPA is on the ground educating miners on the harmful effects of mercury on their health.

Meanwhile, when this paper contacted the District Police Commander of Prestea, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Timothy Dassa, on the issue he debunked the allegations, pointing out that the said area did not fall under Prestea but rather Axim.

He added that most of the small scale miners were based in Prestea and when the concession owners seized their equipment the small scale miners came to block the road leading to the said area.

The commander stressed that he and his team were not in bed with the small scale miners association.