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The Grand Coalition of the Sefwi Youth Association, a pressure group in the Western Region, has threatened to demonstrate against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should it refuse to release royalties from the Special Trust fund to the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council within one month.

At a press conference held in Accra a couple of days ago, Nana Prempeh Aduhene the Executive President for the Association  disclosed that mining royalties paid to the EPA by Chirano Gold Mines into the Special Trust Fund for development projects aimed at benefiting indigenes of Sefwi and Ghana has not been released to the council since 2005.

 According to him, the special trust fund is a special fund created to enable mining companies that are mining in Forrest reserves deposit one dollar per ounce of Gold they mine. “This is to help revive the depleted forest and preserve the environment. Part of the money is also meant to provide developmental project in mine affected communities”. 

 Nana Aduhene pointed out that the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council in a meeting with members of the association said that the money to be collected was earmarked for the building of a hostel for the only Nursing Training College in the area, a project started by the late chief.

 The Executive President of the youth association said the present situation was unacceptable since the funding for the construction of the hostel now rests on the shoulders of the current Paramount Chief. He also said that the funds are needed for the progression of the project at a faster rate since the facility is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

 He regarded as unacceptable the claim by EPA that it has spent 50% of the money collected on administrative activities calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to come clear with proper explanation and auditing of the money received over the years.

Nana Aduhene said even though they have a series of activities including demonstration, blocking of roads to all mining sites among other plans, he called on EPA to respond quickly to their appeal.