The Concerned Youth of Samreboi has strongly refuted claims made by the Member of Parliament for Amenfi West, Eric Afful, that there are no illegal mining operations within Samreboi and the wider Amenfi West constituency.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s flagship news programme, Nyankonton Mu Nsem, the Public Relations Officer for the youth group, Godwin Tweneboah, described the lawmaker’s assertions as entirely false and detached from the daily reality faced by local residents.
The response comes after the MP stated during a media interaction on 27 July 2026 that illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, had been eradicated in the area.
However, Mr Tweneboah maintained that galamsey activities are carried out daily in and around Samreboi, highlighting an active site in the heart of the community, popularly referred to as Chin Load.
He cited a recent tragedy to underscore the severity of the issue, revealing that a young man lost his life at the Chin Load site approximately three months ago. The incident sparked intense outrage, leading aggrieved local youth to set three excavators ablaze in protest.
Expressing dismay over the MP’s public denial, the spokesperson stated that the community expects its leader to acknowledge the situation candidly rather than dismiss its existence, emphasizing that admitting the problem remains the critical first step toward finding a lasting solution.
The group has consequently called on the lawmaker and state regulatory authorities to collaborate directly with the local populace to combat illegal mining effectively and safeguard the environment for future generations.
