Youth from Obuoho and Obuoho Fante in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region have staged a protest against the Forestry Commission’s burning of excavators, calling the act unlawful.
Clad in red and black, the demonstrators chanted war songs and demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers involved in the incident.
Last week, a rapid unit of the Forestry Commission reportedly set fire to four excavators allegedly being used for illegal mining in the Atewa Forest and along the Ayensu River.
Speaking to the media, the youth denied engaging in illegal mining and urged the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Coordinator to take action against the officers, arguing that their actions were not authorized by the President.
The Assembly Member for Anum Apapamu North, Adu-Gyamfi Douglas, echoed the concerns of the youth, warning that the absence of small-scale mining could lead to an increase in social vices.
“There is no work here. About five years ago, robbery and other crimes were common, but small-scale mining has helped reduce them. If mining stops, it will negatively impact the community. My checks show that one site employs about 50 people, so with two sites, around 100 people work here,” he stated.