The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has announced that the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council is set to enact a law to seize and reclaim all abandoned illegal mining lands in the area.
He warned that landlords, families, and farmers who have sold their lands to miners but abandoned them after mining gold risk losing once the traditional council reclaims the land.
“God has blessed Okyeman with Gold and diamonds which have been invaded by illegal miners regardless of the warnings to them to stop they are not listening. Mining of Gold and diamonds in Akwatia started a very long time ago but our forefathers did it responsibly. They knew the future generation would come so they didn’t destroy the environment. But in our time, we are destroying the arable lands and river Kwabeng because of greed. Now cocoa farmers are selling their cocoa farms to miners to get rich quickly. The miner has mined the gold but abandoned the land. Those lands will no longer belong to you(owners)”, Okyenhene stated.
He warned “If you sell farmland to a miner who fails to reclaim the land after mining, never claim ownership of the land again after we reclaim it. When we look for funds to reclaim the land, that land will no longer belong to you. It is a law we have enacted in Kyebi so Elders should listen well. Many farmers have sold their lands to miners, and the miners have extracted the gold and abandoned the lands please don’t get closer that the land belongs to you when reclaim. We will deal with you”.
Okyenhene said this during a traditional durbar in his honour in Akyem Kwabeng, held as part of activities marking the 25th anniversary of his ascension to the Ofori Panin stool, the Okyenhene condemned the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining.
He urged the youth to cease their involvement in the activity to protect the environment and preserve water bodies.
The chief of Akyem Kwabeng, Daasebre Ayimadu Kantamanto II, Gyaasehene of Akyem Abuakwa, highlighted efforts by traditional leaders to reduce illegal mining activities in the area, ensuring the rivers remains clean and the menace is minimized.
The Chief eulogized Okyenhene for spearheading development in Akyem Abuakwa.
Okyenhene is expected to climax the 25th anniversary next month having visited all Divisional areas in Akyem Abuakwa.
Four(4) of ten(10) Amoatia Ofori Panin model schools constructed by Okyenhene so far have been commissioned at Kyebi, Achiase, Akyem Wenchi, and Osino
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
