As part of efforts to re – utilize lands affected by illegal mining activities, the Chief of Obomeng, Odeɛfo Nana Effah Opinamang II has rekindled his commitment to ensure that he reclaims all lands belonging to the stool lands.
At a later press engagement at Nkawkaw Palace, Nana Effah Opinamang revealed that the land, after the reclamation will be used to grow cash crops such as cashew and palm plantations.
The Chief’s comment comes after it is believed that, Akroma Gold, a large scale mining Company has recently been engaging surface mining, otherwise referred to as, Alluvia.
Akroma is believed to have written a letter to the Government, requesting authorities to stop the Chief from reclaiming the land.
The mining company is said, to rather accusing Obomeng Hene and his leaders for involvement in galamsey activities, who are rather reclaiming the land destroyed by Akroma Gold surface mining.
Nana Effah Opinamang II further indicated that, when a concession from Nananom, social corporate responsibilities by mining companies should be fully adhered to. In this regard, it was revealed that Akroma Gold has not been fulfilling their CSR obligations.
“You went there and saw the work we’re doing. We’re going to do plantations on the land. We’ve reclaimed so many acres of land. Some of these elements we’re talking about are those given the concession, we’re asking them to adhere to the CSR obligations. They should as well ensure that they cover the pits but if they don’t, we shall take it upon ourselves and ensure all those pits are covered. We shall continue with our drive, and thereafter, we will re – utilize the lands for cash crops. We also asking those working on our lands to put down a goodwill which will be used to recover these affected lands in case they don’t do. Anyone doing anything illegal should stop, if they don’t, all those companies having concessions have the right to stop them”.
When media team visited the sites destroyed by surface mining, uniforms belonging to Akroma Gold were pictured, while at a different site, work was still ongoing, where some Chinese were also captured.
According to the team leader of the land reclamation initiative, Mr. Yaw Adjei (Sir Lord), Akroma claimed to have been given an additional surface mining license but in his assertions, when a company is giving a large scale mining license, it is not given another license to engage in surface mining, so the case where Akroma Gold has engaged in surface mining and destroying the surface of the earth and rather accusing Obomeng Hene for engaging in illegal mining activities doesn’t come in.
The reclamation drive has so far saved over 125 acres of land affected by illegal mining activities on Obomeng stool lands.
There are mining pits that has been there for over 8 to 9 years which has been covered, although, a large trench of the land remains untouched.
Nana Obomeng Hene has assured that he reclaim the land to avert losing his people who are being getting drowned day in day out by these abandoned pits.
“We’ve been able to cover 125 acres which are obvious, you saw it. The challenges are many but few of it is the funding because the work is tedious. We only dredge where we think there’s mineral, just to support our work but majority of the people think we are rather doing galamsey.
One major challenged is Akroma Gold, claiming they have concession there, we don’t know whether it is Alluvia license or not but we’d like you follow up for us. Most of the time, they will attack our boys, destroy our excavators unless the chief himself comes and that’s the reason why we sent you there to witness what they are doing and the reclamation we’re also doing”, he said.
The Obomeng Stool Reclamation Project started last year, with lands affected by illegal mining activities in most of the rural areas under the stool lands being reclaimed.
So far, a number of trees, palm plantations, plantains and cassavas have been planted in most of the reclamation lands.
