Residents at Gyedu live in fear over illegal mining

Residents at Gyedu, one of Newmont’s Ahafo Mine host communities in the Asutifi District of Brong-Ahafo Region, are living in fear because of the activities of illegal miners.

Houses and structures in the town have now become death traps to occupants as most of them hang on pits dug by illegal miners who prospect for raw gold in the community.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the community, it was revealed that majority of the illegal miners were people who had travelled from the western part of the country to undertake mining activities in the area.

Residents condemned the practice which they observed became rife when the Ahafo Mine began actual mining in 2006.

Nana Owusu Anin, Mawrehene, (sub-chief) at Gyedu, told the GNA that most of the pits the illegal miners operated in were also close to school buildings.

He said efforts made by the community leaders to stop the illegal miners had not been successful as many of the operators were well armed while some wielded guns and other offensive weapons.

Nana Anin said the illegal mining activities went on at the centre of the town affecting most of the high tension poles erected in the area.

He feared that some of the houses could cave-in during the rainy season as the pits had weakened the foundation.

Nana Anin appealed to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council to intervene before something dangerous happened.

He said the community leaders made attempt to fill the pits with debris but the numerous death threats from the illegal miners scared them.

Source: GNA