Residents of Amakye-Bare in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region have voiced their strong opposition to illegal mining, pledging to resist all future activities after successfully stopping a recent attempt through a robust community protest.

Illegal mining has led to significant destruction of farmlands and poses a serious threat to the community’s water sources, which are crucial for both household use and agriculture.

As a small farming community, Amakye-Bare heavily relies on agriculture and informal jobs for its sustenance.

Several months ago, farmers and residents came together to protest the encroachment of illegal miners who had already devastated large portions of farmland. While some farmers succumbed to pressure to sell their land, the community ultimately took action by confronting the miners and setting their equipment on fire, following lack of response from authorities despite their repeated calls for intervention.
By Nii Odartey Lamptey