Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has reiterated his commitment to cracking the whip on chiefs within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area who are involved in illegal mining.
The caution comes after the Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe, Nana Darkwa, admitted to his involvement in illegal mining at Asamang Tamfoe before the Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Council in Kyebi.
The necessary customary rites were subsequently performed by Okyenhene’s chief linguist, Okyeame
Antwi Boasiako, on a stone referred to as ‘Bonsamboo’ at the forecourt of the Ofori Panin fie to symbolise the destoolment of the chief for his involvement in illegal mining.
The customary rites were performed in the presence of the Kyebi Executive Council and the chief of Asamang Tamfoe, Nana Kwame Koh II.
Destoolment
Prior to his destoolment, Nana Darkwa had organised a press conference calling the bluff off the Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce, and threatening to attack them if they dared enter Asamang Tamfoe to clamp down on illegal mining in the area.
At the press conference, he addressed himself as the chairman of the Community Mining Committee at Asamang Tamfoe and Benkumhene of the are who wielded the sole powers to supervise community mining in the area.
Nana Darkwa was said to have instigated the Asamang Tamfoe youth in a confrontation that ensued between the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce and a section of the youth in the area which lead to the sporadic gunshot some months ago.
He had questioned the authority of the leader of the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce, who doubles as the Apepamhene, Okogyeman Apedja Fori, and the Kyebi Divisional Police Command for clamping down the menace of illegal mining in the area.
No community mining
At the Judicial Council meeting in Kyebi, the Council revealed that their contacts at the Minerals Commission denied the commissioning of any Community Mining at Tamfoe. It was further revealed that the Minerals Commission had not appointed anybody to chair Community Mining Module in the area.
Reports say Nana Darkwa previously declined an invitation by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council over his conduct, and exhibited gross insubordination towards the Okyenhene.
At the Judicial Council meeting, Nana Darkwa was seen down onvthe floor before the Okyenhene in remorse. But the Okyenhene after, listening to his admissions on illegal miming and calling the bluff off the Okyeman Taskforce, made a consequential order for his destoolment.
Consequently, the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa insisted that the Benkumhene is not fit to be a chief per his conduct.
He further cautioned chiefs within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area to be guided by this development, and desist from promoting activities of illegal mining or getting involved in same or face destoolment.
