The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has revealed that the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council will enact new legislation to seize and reclaim all abandoned illegal mining sites within the region.
In a bold move to combat the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey), Okyenhene warned that landlords, families, and farmers who sold their land to miners, but have since abandoned it, are at risk of losing it entirely once the traditional council reclaims ownership.
“God has blessed Okyeman with Gold and diamonds which have been invaded by illegal miners regardless of the warnings to them to stop they are not listening.
Mining of Gold and diamonds in Akwatia started a very long time ago but our forefathers did it responsibly.
They knew the future generation would come so they didn’t destroy the environment. But in our time, we are destroying the arable lands and river Kwabeng because of greed.
Now cocoa farmers are selling their cocoa farms to miners to get rich quickly. The miner has mined the gold but abandoned the land. Those lands will no longer belong to you(owners)”, Okyenhene stated.
He warned “If you sell farmland to a miner who fails to reclaim the land after mining, never claim ownership of the land again after we reclaim it.
When we look for funds to reclaim the land, that land will no longer belong to you. It is a law we have enacted in Kyebi so Elders should listen well.
Many farmers have sold their lands to miners, and the miners have extracted the gold and abandoned the lands please don’t get closer that the land belongs to you when reclaim. We will deal with you”.
The Chief eulogized Okyenhene for spearheading development in Akyem Abuakwa.
Okyenhene is expected to climax the 25th anniversary next month having visited all Divisional areas in Akyem Abuakwa.
Four(4) of ten(10) Amoatia Ofori Panin model schools constructed by Okyenhene so far have been commissioned at Kyebi, Achiase, Akyem Wenchi, and Osino.
