Residents of the Aboabo community in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality in the Western North Region support illegal miners who destroy farmlands, plantations, rivers, and the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve. They claim that the illegal miners are driving infrastructure development efforts, citing unsuccessful government-led attempts.
Extensive areas of land, including cocoa fields and plantations encompassing around 50 acres of the Anhwiaso East Forest, display the scars of damage left by these unlawful miners. Several large forest reserves over eight zones in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality have been subjected to illicit mining, endangering the Aboabo and Aframpuye rivers, which eventually drain into the River Ankrobra.
Some inhabitants of Aboabo, one of the impacted settlements, show support for the miners, claiming that their infrastructure requirements are being met, albeit acknowledging the negative consequences of the devastation.
They argue that the illegal miners continue to meet their infrastructural needs in the absence of significant government involvement.
One of the locals, Theophilus Kwofie, who was unhappy with the presence of certain media in the area,
said, “The community benefits from the activities of the illegal miners. They have helped reshape the bad road network in this area; they have provided us with potable drinking water and educational facilities. We are okay with the work the illegal miners are doing for the community.”
“The government is not helping with our developmental needs despite several concerns. So we have to allow the illegal miners into our community since they are prepared and ready to help us. An example is our road network, which has been in a very deplorable state. When it rains, we cannot access the road. When our women are in labor, it is difficult for them because there is no clinic in this area. We have complained, andthe Government is not minding us. When the illegal miners come, they help us get what we want, so we like the work they do.”
These community residents claim that illegal miners have taken the initiative in supplying water, improving educational facilities, and expanding road networks.
However, questions have been raised about the role of some New Patriotic Party leaders in the region, who are supposedly linked to concessions and may be driving illicit mining activities. Samuel Kyem, a local farmer, encourages the appropriate authorities to act and prevent further harm of the vegetation by illegal miners.
Paul Andoh, the Municipal Chief Executive of Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, states that the Municipal Security Council is currently examining the situation. He underlines that the region’s lack of development should not be used to justify further illicit mining activities.
During the inspection, it was discovered that the excavators and other equipment used by illegal miners were still in the village.
