Tension is brewing in Konongo in the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti region where illegal miners have invaded the Owere Mines concession posing a threat to lives of people who work at the mine and property of the company.
The threat comes at a time when Owere Mine managers have secured a 20 million dollar facility to help change the fortunes of the mines. The managers of the mine have put operations on hold as a result.
Over 200 illegal miners have invaded the Owere Mines concession at Konongo threatening the lives of workers in that mine.
The galamsey operators, wielding machetes and other offensive weapons started allocating lands inside the mine immediately they entered Fiajogbeh located in the southern part of the mine.
Not even the presence of the mine security personnel could prevent them from carrying through their actions.
The management has been seeking investment to revamp the mine which has already seen more than 60 million US Dollars in investments.
Security Manager of Owere Mines David Nguettia says the live of workers are being threatened.
“They [Galamsey operators] pose a lot of threat. One of my petrol team guys was hurt. We risk some items being stolen and we have a lot of plants, a lot of machines. The pits that they are digging, whenever they dig the pits, they leave it to go so it becomes a death trap. That’s the danger it poses”. He said in a worried voice.
The agitated galamsey operators prevented the news team from getting close to the freshly dug galamsey pits insisting the Owere Mine have no valid documents to operate.
They directed us to speak to their leader, one Mensuro who has been unreachable.
In the light of the security threat, Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon has directed the District Security Council to act quickly as REGSEC reviews a petition filed by Owere Mines.
“We are deeply very concern about such developments. We’ve seen some of the pictures and they are quiet disturbing and I have asked the District Security Council under the Konongo Municipal Chief Executive to act and give me an immediate report upon which REGSEC will now go in and see what we can do”. Mr. Ackon said.
Even before he receives DISEC report, Mr. Ackon has condemned the action of the illegal miners.
“But nobody should take [law] into their hands without the involvement of the original owners. That one we should avoid it. People should respect ownership; the legal rights of owners”, says Mr. Ackon.
According to documents the Owere mines were granted the mining rights in 2010 covering a 13 year period.
Though Managers lodged a complaint with the Konongo District command, no arrest has been made so far leaving managers of the mine helpless.
– Source: Nhyira fm/Ohemeng Tawiah
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