We are sitting on gold, but lack development -Apinto Chief

The Gyasehene of the Apinto Divisional Stool, Nana Dr. Kwabena Adarkwa Bediako III, has warned that Tarkwa, a mining community in the Western Region, may not be able to continue to offer its land and resources anymore for the development of the country, if their development needs were not addressed.

According to him, gold had been mined in the area for 170 years, yet they were not seeing any tangible development.

Speaking in an interview with journalists at Tarkwa, he said 5% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was derived from Tarkwa every year, yet their roads were in deplorable states.

The Apinto Gyasehene, who is also a University Lecturer, warned that should the government fail to do something about the current state of Tarkwa, his outfit would be right to agitate for an end to mining in Tarkwa.

“There are more asphalt roads in Alajo and in Circle than Tarkwa, a community that provides 5% of Ghana’s GDP,” he said, adding that, but for the mining companies operating in Tarkwa, social intervention programmes such as building of schools and hospitals and clinic would have eluded them.

“All these are being built by mining companies, but what about government?” he questioned.

Supporting his argument with facts, he added that when Ghana realised that cocoa was providing revenue for the country, there was a countrywide scholarships for cocoa growing communities.

“So, what about providing scholarships for mining communities; why do we have to put all the burden on mining companies and not government?” he asked.

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