The Chiefs and people of Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region have issued a strong warning to small scale, Chinese and illegal miners attempting to prospects for gold or undertake galamsey to reverse their decisions or face the consequences.

According to Nana Yaw Ampofo, the Secretary to Atronie Traditional Authority reminded the Atronie people that the consequences of illegal mining overshadowed the benefits, asking them to remain resolute and watchful to stop any illegal miner from entering the Atronie stool lands.
He warned that those who failed to heed to the caution did so at their own peril, insisting that “For now prefer foodstuffs to gold”.

“We cannot allow our water bodies to be destroyed, and we will not allow our vegetation to be destroyed”, he stated when interacting with the people of Jinijini, Ayimo and Amamaja, predominantly cocoa growing communities which owed allegiance to the Atronie traditional stool.

He said investigations also revealed that foreign nationals believed to be Chinese later came to the area to prospect for gold.

“These Chinese people the Assemblyman that they were commissioned by the Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Badu II to mine here because, according to them, the land belongs to him”, the chief alleged, stressing that: “Jinijini belongs to Atronie and it’s part of the Atronie Traditional Authority”.

Diawusie Amponsem Darko II, the Chief of Atronie also added his voice to the warning, asking the community members to defend and preserve the sustainability of their heritage.

Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah