Residents of Esaase-Bontefufuo in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region have arrested 6 illegal miners at Esaase Forest Reserve in the District.
The Community members seized four excavators belonging to the illegal miners after 6 of them were arrested.
One of the community members Gideon Aboagye speaking to Abusua FM’s Osei Kwadwo said the illegal miners have been in the forest for some months destroying their lands.
According to Gideon Aboagye, the illegal miners are destroying the Esaase Forest Reserve with the illegal activities.
Gideon Aboagye explained that the illegal miners after their arrest alleged that they paid a Hundred Thousand Ghana cedis (GHc100,000) to the assembly member for Esaase-Bontefufuo electoral area Victor Appiah to get their way through to the forest.
The residents however accused the District Chief Executive of Amansie West District Hon William Asante Bediako and the Assembly Man for Esaase-Bontefufo Victor Appiah for being behind the illegal miners who are mining illegally in the Esaase Forest Reserve.
“We the youth in the community have complained about the activities of the illegal miners in the Esaase Forest Reserve to the authorities especially the District Chief Executive for Amansie West District William Asante Bediako but nothing has been done about the issue. The illegal miners are destroying our Forest Reserve with their illegal activities. We went there to stop them and arrest 6 of them and remove some parts of their excavators” he said.
Gideon Aboagye added that after the arrest of the 6 illegal miners, soldiers protecting Asanco Mining came to release the illegal miners but the youth resisted.
However, the Assemblyman for Esaase Bontefufuo electoral area Victor Appiah speaking in an interview with Osei Kwadwo rubbished the allegation made by the residents that he took Hundred Thousand Ghana cedis (GHc100,000) from the illegal miners.
“As I am talking to you now, I am not in the community. I was admitted at hospital. I know government is fighting illegal mining in the country so who am I to give forest reserve to illegal miners. I don’t have that power and I have not taken money from anyone. I don’t support galamsey and I will never support it,” he refuted allegations.
Efforts to get William Asante Bediako proved futile.
By: Ghana/Ultimatefmonline.com/106.9FM
The post Esaase Bontefufuo: 6 Illegal Miners arrested, DCE, Assemblyman fingered appeared first on Ultimate FM.
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