Barely a month ago, Asiakwahene, Daasebre Dr. Twum Ampofo, and his cabinet took a bold step by placing a ban on mining along the riverbanks in the area.
This move aligned with Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s directive to stop mining along the Birim River and other rivers in the Akyem Abuakwa enclave, including Asiakwa’s Supong River.
This initiative by the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council aimed to protect water bodies from pollution caused by illegal mining activities.
To enforce this directive, the Asiakwahene, who also serves as Okyeman Nifahene, together with his cabinet and a task force, stormed several mining sites in Asiakwa to apprehend illegal miners operating along the riverbanks.
However, upon their arrival, some miners fled, abandoning their excavators. For those who did not escape, their excavator keys, gallons of fuel, and generators were confiscated.
Moreover, several control boards were removed from the abandoned excavators, rendering them inoperable.
Our news team, led by Kontihene Kofi Oboh, visited these mining sites on Friday, February 21, 2025, to assess whether mining activities had resumed despite Daasebre Twum Ampofo’s bold decision and stern warning.
To the surprise of the media team, some miners had vacated the site, while others had reclaimed portions of the land. However, some were still engaged in mining activities.
Some farmers in the community applauded Okyeman Nifahene and his team for their efforts but believed more needed to be done to curb the menace in the area.
According to them, illegal mining has left many pits uncovered, leading to mosquito breeding and causing sleepless nights.
They, therefore, appealed to Daasebre Ampofo to instruct the miners to reclaim the land before leaving, as their abandoned pits posed a threat to residents.
For his part, a miner, Effah Ofosu, assured Daasebre Dr. Twum Ampofo of their commitment to practicing responsible mining to protect the water bodies in Asiakwa.
He pleaded with the Asiakwa Royal Palace to regulate their work, emphasizing that they also create job opportunities for the youth, helping to prevent social vices.
Effah Ofosu also urged his fellow miners to reclaim the land and plant trees to make the area useful in the future.
Adding to the discussion, Lawyer Benin Peprah of Kwame Gyan and Associates, a native of Asiakwa, noted that mining has existed for a long time but was not as destructive as it is today.
‘Today, mining activities have destroyed forests, water bodies, land, and farm produce, which is very disheartening,’ he lamented.
He expressed confidence that if the people of Asiakwa supported the cause, the fight against illegal mining would be feasible.
Lawyer Peprah stated that the initiatives taken by Okyenhene and his Nifahene were laudable and would help restore water bodies to their original state.
By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.
Source// Obohnewsonline.com.
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