Akwatia chiefs and PTA against mining at Akwatia

Akwatia (E/R), July 27, GNA - The Akwatia Traditional Council and the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) of Akwatia Technical Institute have condemned the decision to permit a private mining group to mine for diamonds in the oil palm plantation of the institute.

The two bodies, at separate meetings at Akwatia, have called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to ensure that no one is allowed to mine in any part of the institute.

The Akwatia Traditional Authority sent a letter signed by the Akwatiahene, Osabarima Kofi Boateng III, registering strong objection to moves by a private mining company to operate in the institute's oil palm plantain which is close to the institute.

The PTA of the institute, in a petition singed by Mr. Emmanuel Katako, the PTA chairman, said mining in the school could threaten its learning and teaching environment.

The PTA said in the past miners did not reclaim the land after mining and there was no guarantee that this time round they would do so.

The association said the school also benefited from the oil palm trees as they produced palm oil which is used in cooking for the school.

Patches of land around the institute had in the past been released by the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds to individuals and groups to mine.

Lately a group, Asikuma Company Limited, has been given permission by the Ministry of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency to mine for diamonds in the oil palm plantation of the school.

The group is waiting for the institute to go on holidays before starting work to avoid possible demonstration and clash with the students.