Residents continue search for illegal miners shot into Birim River

Small scale illegal miners at Akyem Asamama community in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region have stepped up their search for about five of their members believed to have been gunned down into the Birim River during clashes with the anti-galamsey tasksforce.

The leader of the miners, Kelvin Asiameh Kobina told Kojo Ansah, EIB’s Eastern Regional correspondent on the sidelines of their operation that they strongly believe about five of their members were shot dead into the Birim River since their whereabouts cannot be traced.

Ansah who visited the community reports that the miners have discounted police report of only two deaths recorded during the clashes.

Residents of the community who are incensed about the police brutality took to the streets on Friday to register their displeasure about Thursday’s shooting incident which killed two and injured several others.

The residents, mostly illegal miners, clad in red arm bands and chanting war songs accused the security operatives deployed to carry out the operations in the community of unprofessional conduct.

According to them, even though tempers were high leading to the clash, they were armless; hence, the Police had no justification to open fire on them.

They claim land guards wielding weapons and some other implements accompanied the security operative to launch the attack on their lives.

The miners also accused their Traditional rulers for conniving with one Yaw Ayebiahwe, a concessioner, to orchestrate the attack.

The miners say they have reorganized themselves and battle ready to crash any security personnel who steps on the land to face them.

He said, the youth in the area are unemployed only depend on the small scale mining as their source of livelihood.

Asamama is the only community in the enclave that has consistently rejected illegal mining activities citing its devastating effect on the environment.

However, this year, the youth leadership went in for Chanfai group, which basically mines in the Birim River.

The Chiefs in the area say they disapproved the operation of the Chanfai miners due to its negative impact on the river.