GOV'T. URGED TO REVAMP OBUASI MINES

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Government has been urged to revamp the Obuasi mines to sustain the livelihood of the people and the entire national economy.

 Speaking at a news conference at Fomena in the Adansi North district of Ashanti, the Spokesperson for a group calling itself Concerned Adansi Forum, Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa in a statement appealed to government to as a matter of urgency put measures in place to restore the mine onto the path of prosperity and profitability not exceeding the two-year period granted by the government to undertake care and maintenance of the mine. 

The statement also urged government to allow the state security currently deployed to protect the Obuasi mine and its installations to carry out their legally mandated duties without any shred of fear or favour and devoid of any political interference. 

The Concerned Adansi Forum also asked stakeholders particularly government to regularize 60 percent of the ceded AngloGold Ashanti Limited concession to those in the small-scale mining sector to create jobs to augment the livelihoods of the people within the catchment areas.

 The concerned youth appealed to the authorities to bring back the lost investor confidence in the Obuasi mines as a result of the siege of the fence operational areas of the mine by intruders. 

According to the group, they want the mines to work again in a non-interfered atmosphere, therefore the use of small-scale miners also to work legally in a non-interfered environment, and the laws of the land must be enforced for the benefit of all Ghanaians. 

They noted with concern the experienced Prestea Mines went through in 2002. 

According to them, the underground mine in Prestea was put under similar care and maintenance for a period of two years resorting to thousands of job cuts. 

The mine has still not resumed production up till date resulting in dire economic and environmental consequences for the people of Prestea, whilst most of their lands cannot support farming as a result of decades of mining related pollution which continue today because of ongoing widespread mining activities.

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