Residents of New Esaase, a community in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region are demonstrating against Akroma Gold Fields limited, a mining firm operating in the area.
The residents say despite mining of gold deposit in the area for years the community still wallow in abject poverty underpinned by lack of basic social amenities such as safe drinking water, toilet facility, road network and proper school infrastructure.
According to Mr Adu Buahene, the Committee Secretary, the mining company has failed to honour its parts of the corporate social responsibility contract with the community having been operating in the area for seven years though, the name of the company has evolved for three times.
The residents mostly peasant farmers say their sources of livelihood have been destroyed as the activities of the mining company has infringed on the environment.
Agoo FM’s Stephen Abuaku Commodore, reports that the residents are again accusing the mining company of abandoning pits mined endangering the lives of farmers as well as women and children.
According to them, petitions sent to the mining companies on their concerns have fallen on deaf ears hence their protest.
They are calling on the regulatory bodies and government to call to order the mining company to operate within the dictates of the environmental regulations and also fulfil its parts of the social contract.
They have threatened to physically stop the company from operating in the area should their concerns not be addressed.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
