The youth of Aboso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality have raised a fierce protest against the reported sale of a long-standing community mining concession given to them by Goldfields Ghana limited to a Chinese company, Global Ghana Ore Industry Limited.
​The community, known for its rich mining history, is currently in a state of unrest as residents claim the site—which has supported local livelihoods since the 1980s—is being signed away by a few individuals.
Chairman Dela Gudda, the leader for the Aboso youth, has voiced strong concerns regarding the transparency of the transaction. He explained that although the management of the concession has historically shifted whenever there is a change in the political administration, the site has always remained a “community-first” resource.
According to Mr. Gudda, the site has operated as a regulated small-scale mining hub since the 1980s when Goldfiels Ghana limited handed it over to the community, providing indigenous workers and youth from across Ghana with a legitimate means of income. He emphasized that the workers are committed to legal mining practices and that the site should remain under local control to ensure that the benefits continue to reach the “ordinary person” in the community.
Mr Gudda further highlighted the direct correlation between the mining site’s operations and the peace currently enjoyed in the township. He noted that the availability of work at the concession has significantly reduced the crime rate in Aboso, as young people are actively engaged in productive labor rather than social vices.
He argued that the local economy has seen consistent growth because the wealth generated at the site stays within the municipality, supporting households and small businesses alike.
There is a deep-seated fear among the residents that a takeover by Global Ghana Ore Industry Limited would lead to the displacement of thousands of local workers, which they believe would inevitably result in an economic collapse and a resurgence of criminal activity.
In a passionate appeal to the authorities, the youth have called upon the government, political stakeholders, and traditional opinion leaders to intervene and nullify the alleged lease agreement.
Chairman Gudda stressed that the community is pleading with all relevant institutions to help halt the sale before it creates an irreversible crisis. He warned that the youth are prepared to defend their interests and have already begun organizing a massive demonstration set to take place in the coming days.
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