Communities demonstrate against Wassa Mine

Tarkwa (W/R), Sept. 22, - GNA- Four communities held a demonstration against Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, a mining company based at Wassa Akyempim

in the Wassa Mpohor East Limited, for gross disrespect to the chiefs, unemployment and environmental problems.

They were Kubekro, Nsagyeso, Old Subri and Akyempim, all catchment communities of the mine.

The people converged at Akyempim and blocked the roads leading to the mine thereby preventing the employees access to and from the Mine. They put on red bands, burnt lorry tyres and paraded the street of Akyempim amid drumming and singing.

Nana Bogya Kwaw, Nsagyeso Chief and Spokesman of the chiefs and the people who narrated their grievances to the press, said after five years of the Mine's operation in the area, there had been no meaningful development.

He said the roads are bad, there is no good source of drinking water and the only two boreholes at Akyempim for instance run out of water during dry season.

He said the only few vacancies that are allocated to the workers from the catchment communities were made on casual basis.

Nana Kwaw, said even the casuals, who were to be confirmed as permanent workers were laid off and instead Heads of Department within the Mine employ their favourites or those who have paid bribe as permanent workers.

He said, because, the local workers were engaged on contract basis, they do not enjoy promotion and salary increases.

He said even chiefs do not have access to the mine, saying chiefs have to go through rigorous checks as an any ordinary person and sometimes turned out for not giving prior information about their arrival, adding this amount to gross disrespect for the chiefs.

Again Nana Kwaw said the General Manager, Mr Richard Gray failed to inform the chiefs about the change of the Mine's name and this frustrated their effort in seeking the assistance of Mpohor Wassa Ease District Assembly.

Nana Kwaw also said the operational area of the mine was very close to the Community, about 100 metres away and the impact of blasting, noise making and the dust were having negative impact on the people. He said up to date compensation due to some people have not been paid and the cracks, which have developed in some buildings, the mine has failed to repair them.

He said the Mine has also put off the streetlights in the town for more than one month. Because of power rationing the Communities do not enjoy electricity.

Later at a meeting, John Connell the only manager remaining at the Mine, said since he could not take a decision of the mine alone and pleaded with the people to wait for the arrival of general manager who had travelled to England and would return next Monday. A meeting was scheduled on Wednesday to find amicable solution to their grievances.

He however, said that, they would provide them with the electricity.

In spite of his reaction, the crowd responded, "we shall not agree until our demands are met".