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In order to settle a sour disagreement with Asanko Gold Mines, residents and community leaders in Tontokrom, Amansie South District, are urging President John Dramani Mahama and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to step in immediately.
If the people’s complaints are not handled, the situation, which has been simmering for months, could turn violent. Leading community advocate Nana Adu Gyamfi said during a press conference on Saturday, July 26, that young rage is at dangerously high levels.
Nana Adu Gyamfi claims that security guards guarding Asanko Gold Mines have been complicit in acts of violence and intimidation against the community. Residents have reportedly been hospitalised, beaten, and in certain cases, killed, he said.
“Our people live in fear all the time. He declared, “We can’t keep seeing our own people suffer at the hands of those who say they have the right to be on our land.”
Officials were unable to give clear answers when Nana Adu Gyamfi asked the company about the legal documents pertaining to the concession. We’re not prepared to hear any nonsense from Asanko Gold Mines.
Take a look at us; we’re furious and wearing red. We will let them know that we will not put up with their excesses any longer if they believe we are weak. He said, “If that’s their plan, they’ll have to kill us all.”
The community leader fervently urged Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and President Mahama to intervene in order to avert another catastrophe akin to the one that occurred in Obuasi, where skirmishes between residents and security officers allegedly resulted in fatalities.
This land was given to us by our ancestors, and we cannot be forced to leave it like foreigners. We’re prepared to fight back if they try to drive us off our land,” Nana Adu Gyamfi continued. He also promised that Asanko Gold Mines would no longer be allowed in the neighbourhood.
“As of right now, we do not want to see their cars, drones, or any other activities on our property. “They’re not needed here,” he cautioned.
Youth Call for the President’s Attention Another youth leader who chastised the corporation for its lack of community involvement was Kwadwo Addo, who is a member of the NDC’s Concerned Youth in Tontokrom.
“Asanko has never communicated with us. They claim that moving us into the forest is their goal. However, when a landlord is unwilling to relocate, how can you evict him from his own property?” he asked.
An Account of Past Conflicts The conflict between Asanko Gold Mines and the people of Tontokrom has a long history. Small-scale miners who have been working on the property for generations have long accused the business of denying them access. Prior mediation attempts have been unsuccessful, with both parties maintaining their positions.
Leaders of the community are now demanding a roundtable conversation with all parties involved, including the mining company, government officials, traditional leaders, and the Minerals Commission.
A community mining program, they think, might help avert such upheaval and give young people stable jobs. One young leader stated, “We will not tolerate being treated like squatters on our own land, but we do not want violence.” Residents are calling on President Mahama and Otumfuo to take immediate action to prevent what could turn into a violent and hazardous altercation as tensions build.
