The Birim North District Security Council has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to all illegal miners operating within the Akyem Ntronang enclave to stop all galamsey activities or face the wrath of the security authorities in the area. The security council has also asked the illegal miners to withdraw all mining equipment from their sites and vacate the community within the stipulated time. This directive from the security council comes just a few weeks after the chiefs of Akyem Ntronang led a protest against the activities of illegal miners in the community, where they alleged the involvement of the District Chief Executive Raymond Damptey in the illegalities, an allegation the DCE vehemently refuted in a Citi News interview. According to a letter from the district assembly chanced on by Citi News, the decision was reached following a community engagement and sensitization with the chiefs and people of the area where the devastation caused by illegal miners was seen throughout the town.
Irate youth hoot at DCE
On April 3, residents of Akyem Ntronang in the Eastern Region gave their District Chief Executive(DCE), Raymond Nana Damptey an unfriendly welcome at a community engagement. The disgruntled residents hooted at Mr Damptey over his alleged involvement in illegal mining which has destroyed water bodies in the area.
Raymond Nana Damptey, Birim North DCE
Their action was on the back of a press conference during which they warned the DCE to within three day remove all ‘galamsey’ equipment. To address their concerns, he organised a meeting to directly engage his people. However, things took a different turn when the DCE during his statement accused the chief, Nana Asiedu Akora II of taking money to allow the infiltration of illegal miners. Displeased by the remarks, the residents present began hooting at him, a situation that made the DCE angry and drove away. In an interview with Adom News, Nana Asiedu Akora II denied any involvement in ‘galamsey’ and accused Mr Damptey of peddling falsehood. For the part of the NPP Chairman for Abirem constituency, Patrick Bannor he said he fully supports the action of the residents because the DCE wants to disgrace the party.