Ahafo region : Angry youth to demonstrate against Newmont Gold, over continuous killings

Asempa Dawuro

Jan 16, 2025 - 12:34

Jan 16, 2025 - 12:45

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Ahafo region : Angry youth to demonstrate against Newmont Gold, over continuous killings

By Adu Gyamfi Odopa

Residents of Ntotroso, Acherensua and Kenyasi and its adjoining communities in the Ahahfo region of Ghana will on next week, demonstrate against Newmont Gold Limited, over continuous killing of residents by the mining company, Ibrahim Braimah, a Youth Leader in the area, has disclosed.

He said that the residents of the two districts ; Asutifi South and North, especially the youth, have given a two weeks ultimatum to the company, to come out and justify the uncouth act of shooting and killing residents on many occasions for visiting their concession.

The Youth Leader lamented how on numerous situations that residents of the area have presented petitions and complaints to the then District Chief Executive (DCE), Anthony Mensah, and hosts of traditional and political leaders over the years on similar incidents for resolve, but they have acted unconcerned.

Police Officers deployed to the plant site of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited - Ahafo mine, on Wednesday night 8th January, 2025 shot and kill three (3) and injured four (4) residents of the area at Ntotroso, for allegedly encroaching their concession to take away waste stones of the miner.

According to eye - witnesses account including the survivors, they (unarmed suspects) took to their heels when they were seen by the police, but the officers intentionally decided to shoot and kill them on a very close range, which they could have been easily arrested.

This, and other similar incidents which had happened over the years, have sparked unbearable tension, anger and discomfort among residents including traditional rulers, the various youth groups, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), religious leaders among other women groups.

Mr Ibrahim Braimah on Friday at Kenyasi in the Ahafo region, when addressing journalists during a protest after the incident, emphasised that residents of the area can be violent on any day when they are provoked and maltreated.

Earlier, the United Youth of Acherensua in the Asutifi South District of Ahafo region, where the three dead persons hail from, had released a statement to the press to condemn the barbaric act, and refuted the widely circulated claim by the police service that the suspects went to the miner's site to steal Gold.

"How possible it is for someone to breakthrough the formidable security details of an international mining company such as Newmont?" Haruna Yakubu, a Member of United Youth of Acherensua probed, cautioning that we do not step on the stick of a torn twice.

They have called on the police service, led by the Inspector - General of Police, to do their corrections and come out with a more credible and convincing statement on the incident rather than what they termed as "misinformation piece".

Acherensua Traditional Council (ATC), also clauded in red and black attire, walked through the community's principal streets to register their displeasure towards Newmont Gold Limited, and the police administration for a continuously inhumane treatment on the people.

Mr Ibrahim Braimah bemoaned how security details of the mining company have been intentionally killing residents of the area, especially the young persons, on many occasions for minor offences cautioning that "we will retaliate the next time such an unwarranted acts happen".

He noted that should the mining company stays adamant to their call to come out to address the issue, and the police administration to correct the misinformation statement released on the incident, all the various youth groups in Kenyasi, Ntotroso and Acherensua will demonstrate massively against the company.

Nana Boamah, a former Assembly Member, Kwadaso Electoral Area, addressing journalists, expressed worry and disappointment in the operations of the company in the area, especially the miner's hostal relationship with the hosts communities in incidents such as this.

He indicated that the company would have lived with residents of its operational communities with peace and harmony, as brothers and sisters, resorting to dialogue and engagement, in settling misunderstandings among the two sides, rather than doing what they wish.

The former Assembly Member quizzed that "what will happen whenever the Company or any of its contractors, or a worker also do something wrong against a resident or the community? Should we also burn their staff buses?"

Nana Boamah enjoined political, religious, traditional and youth based groups leadership in the Ahafo region, to rise up to the situation to ending the continuous impunity against residents of Asutifi districts and its neighbouring communities.

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