Sefwi Eluibo Youth point fingers at DCE, District National Security Coordinator in galamsey saga
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Kwabena Agyei Asante, along with the district leadership of the National Security and Bureau of National investigation (BNI) of the Juaboso District, are allegedly said to be involved in illegal mining in the district.
Per a press statement issued by a group from the community that identifies itself as the “Concerned Youth of Sefwi Eluibo”, the group asserts the DCE and district leadership of the BNI and National Security, have for the past three years been engaging in illegal mining activities in the community and the district at large.
According to the Group, residents in the Sefwi Eluibo community were coerced to give up their lands and homes by the DCE to be used as galamsey sites.
“The galamsey operations have been going on in the town for about three years, and the leadership of the district are fully aware, are involved and have been benefiting financially throughout the years,” read parts of the statement.
“The DCE, together with the BNI and National Security Coordinator of the district have been coming here (Sefwi Eluibo) countless times to meet the galamsey operators to take their share of the proceeds,” further read the statement.
The Youth in the Sefwi Eluibo community, through the press statement, has called on the Office of the President to as a matter of urgency, declare the district as a state of emergency over galamsey operations in the area.
“We invite authorities to come to the district and have a first-hand information on the severity of the issue. We are counting on leadership of the land for a swift action,” the group noted.
Read details of the statement below:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
His Excellency the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo
Thro, the Regional Minister, WNR.
The Media & All concerned,
RE: SEFWI ELUIBO GALAMSEY SAGA – DCE AND THE SECURITY ARE RESPONSIBLE, NOT RESIDENTS
We write with grave concerns regarding recent news reports on ‘Galamsey’ issues at Sefwi Eluibo in the Juaboso District.
It is widely reported that residents of the Eluibo township as a result of their personal circumstances, parochial interests and sheer greed negotiated with the operators to dig holes in their homes and the community for gold. The news has brought a lot of shame to us as residents of Eluibo.
This is very pathetic and highly inaccurate and we write to register our displeasure of the half-truth reportages and bring clarity into this. The Galamsey operations have been going on in the town for about three years, and the leadership of the district are fully aware, are involved and have been benefiting financially throughout these years.
To be straight, we will like to stress that residents of Eluibo were coerced into giving up their lands and homes for the galamsey operation by a team led by the District Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Agyei Asante.
The DCE, together with the BNI and the National Security coordinator of the district are all aware, are deeply involved and have been coming here countless times to meet the operators to take their share of proceeds.
The issue has been raised with the DCE severally by some of the concerned residents but he has intentionally kept a deaf ear for his own personal gains. Again, the DCE stays at Bonsu Nkwanta and works at Juaboso.
He plies the route on a daily basis, and can NEVER deny knowledge of the issue. The district NADMO coordinator’s stays in the same town his house is less than twenty metres from where these holes are being dug.
We entreat the regional minister, the local government minister and the president to take an immediate action to investigate the DCE and all the security heads for sanity to prevail, restore community trust and confidence in the assembly and to save us Eluibo from the constant humiliations. Eluibo’s case is just a tip of the iceberg about galamsey operations in the district.
In fact, Juaboso should be declared as a state of emergency for galamsey operations. We invite authorities to come to the district and have a first-hand information on the severity of the issue. We need leadership now than ever to save lives and livelihoods at Eluibo and the wider Juaboso community.
We are counting on leadership of the land for a swift action.
Sincerely,
CONCERNED YOUTH OF SEFWI ELLUIBO
SIGNED
Yaw Francis. PRO
0249154628
Nana Yaw. SEC.
0205930942
Kwadwo David. MEM
0548225792
Yaw Nelson MEM
0247274851
Osei Kwaku
0241062529
Kwabena Joshua
0248579123
Kwame Kese
0542604506
Kwasi Awuah
0541439258
Awuah Francis
0559997719
Kwadwo Nelson 0205807339
