The Chiefs, youth, and residents of Gambia Alhassan, located within the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, are urgently calling for government intervention regarding years of alleged illegal mining by the Chinese firm Longshine Mining Limited.
Community members claim the company has encroached upon farmlands for extraction without providing compensation, conducting prior consultations, or offering any form of developmental support to the affected population.
During a media briefing held to express these frustrations, youth leader Richmond Andoh Kwaw accused the operators of flouting local regulations and infringing upon community rights.
He noted that the firm has reportedly operated for over four years without producing valid mining permits or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents.
Furthermore, he lamented that despite years of mineral extraction, the area has seen no tangible improvements to local infrastructure or the economy.
Following sustained pressure from residents, several Chinese nationals associated with the site were recently arrested. Nana Tibu, the Chief of Gambia Alhassan, commended these arrests but issued a stern warning to regulatory bodies against allowing such activities to persist.
He emphasised that the community would remain vigilant to protect their ancestral lands from further unauthorised exploitation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
