Residents of Manso Tontokrom in the Amansie South district of Ashanti region say the only solution to the longstanding conflict between the youth and Asanko Gold Mines is the establishment of community mining scheme in the area.
They claimed government’s continuous failure to address their concerns has made living in the community unsafe for many.
A clash between private security personnel of the mining firm and residents over a mining concession led to the death of three on March 3, 2024.
Scores were also injured.
The deceased included a resident, identified as Rahman Mohammed, 35, who was shot by the private security before angry residents also retaliated and lynched two of the personnel.
At the burial service of Rahman, the father of the deceased, Alhassan Adams said all the family is seeking for is justice.
“Crime has no expiry date so we are keenly monitoring developments.
We pleaded with the district chief executive and police commander to speed up the investigation and prosecute the one who shot and killed our son.
That is the only way to assuage our pain”, he requested.
Abusuapanin of Manso Tontokrom, Opanin Kofi Manu on behalf of the traditional leaders used the opportunity to appeal to the government to address the longstanding tension between Asanko Gold and the local residents over trespassing of mining concession.
“Look at the number of unemployed youth in this community. Their main source of livelihood has been mining so the earlier government introduce the community mining scheme here to employ the youth the better. Else this conflict may not end”, he pleaded.
For now, there is relative calm in the Tontokrom township, but most residents are still living in fear.
Source:
3news.com
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