Ellembelle District Chief Executive, Mr Kwesi Bonzo
District Chief Executive for Ellembele in the Western Region, Kwasi Bonzoh, says frantic efforts are underway to ensure reclamation of all degraded lands, caused by illegal mining, for the cultivation of cash crops, such as cocoa and coconut.
The long-term plan, according to the DCE, is to change the narrative and prove to the rest of the country that Ellembele is no more among the areas where illegal mining takes place.
To this end, Adamus Resources Limited, a large-scale mining company, has released 300 acres of land, being part of its concession, to the Assembly for regulated small scale community mining. The project would create a minimum of 2,000 direct jobs for the youth.
The DCE is optimistic that the regulated small scale community mining project, when launched, will put a stop to illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, in the district.
Town Hall Meeting
Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting at Esiama, over the weekend, Mr Bonzoh noted that although galamsey in Ellembele had reduced in the last few months, it may rise again if swift and proactive measures were not put in place as alternative ventures.
The District Assembly and two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Friends of the Nation and Oxfam, jointly organized the meeting.
The meeting afforded the assembly the opportunity to render account to the people, outline its future programmes, and respond to concerns of the citizenry.
The DCE disclosed that necessary arrangements and modalities had already been put in place to ensure that chiefs and people in each of the fourteen catchment areas of Adamus Resources Limited benefit from the project.
He regretted that only a handful of Ellembele residents currently benefit from the local extractive industry while the residents suffer from the adverse effects of mining including the high cost of living.
No-more encroachment
The DCE was hopeful that the community mining project will bring an end to encroachment on Adamus’ concessions by the youth which often results in arrest and prosecution.
He, therefore, urged the chiefs and people to support the project for their own benefit, adding “we all have roles to play in changing the galamsey narrative in Ellembele.”
Describing himself as “number One” galamsey fighter in President Akufo-Addo’s government, Mr. Bonzoh said he had paid enough price for that with false accusations leveled against him from different angles, including colleague politicians.
Accusations
He said he, together with the district assembly, had a tough time last year fighting galamsey, citing brouhaha surrounding the district magistrate’s bungalow as well as reports of missing excavators.
“For political expediency, the DCE is blamed when galamsey is going on in his district, if he takes steps to stop it too, the faceless actors quickly team up to sabotage and frustrate him”, he lamented.
Mr Bonzoh said this was part of the ordeals that he had to go through as a leader, hoping posterity will judge him for doing his bit.
He further lamented that over 600 acres of arable land, which could have been used for cultivation of food crops, had been destroyed by galamseyers with water bodies also being polluted.
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