ILLEGAL MINING IN THE ASHANTI REGION

The Public Relations Officer for the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Francis Dodovi has discounted media and public pronouncement that the youth of Manso Nsiena in the Amasie West district of the Ashanti region threatened to stop Chinese nationals from resuming illegal mining in the community. According to Francis Dodovi, some of he Chinese nationals went to the site for their belongings but the youth in their assumption taught that there have been new Chinese nationals who are there to engage in the illegal mining activities. Mr. Francis Dodovi in an interview with Kapital News discloses that no attack was meted on the Chinese nationals as it has been speculated by some section of the media. However, the Pubilc Relations Officer to the Ashanti Regional Minister says the Chinese who are back in the community were among those arrested during the disturbance.  He reveals that an official petition would be released after the District Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Oti Prempeh and the Assemblyman met with the youth group. They are also angry the Chinese have been allowed to begin dredging the Nwene River which is the main source of drinking water for the community. The inhabitants last month attacked some Chinese engaged in illegal mining. An opinion leader Joseph Albert Quarm told  Kapital news the anger of the youth is getting out of hand. “The people over there are waiting to see if they (Chinese) will start breaking ground. And if that happens, of course it means that the police have not helped us as they told us. “If that happens the inhabitants can take the law into their own hands,” he cautioned. Whilst he would not advocate for lawlessness, he said he would be helpless if the youth decides to take the law into their hands. However the spokesperson for the Ashanti Regional Minister Francis Dodovi said the Chinese who are back in the community were among those arrested during the disturbance. He told Kapital News, they are only there to pick up their belongings.