On Monday, January 15, 2024, irate inhabitants of Sabronum in the Ahafo Ano South East District of the Ashanti Region took drastic measures by obstructing and setting fire to a truck they suspected of transporting an excavator for unauthorized mining in a forest reserve.
There were allegations that unidentified individuals, purportedly with the backing of local authorities, transported an excavator into the forest, causing alarm among residents about potential illicit mining activities.
In protest, the residents prevented the truck from leaving, barricading its path and setting it ablaze. They have pledged to resist any attempts at illegal mining within their vicinity.
Amidst the commotion in Sabronum, a person named Bismarck Ankamaah reportedly fell victim to an assault, sustaining severe machete wounds. The assailants accused him of instigating the arson against the truck that brought the excavator to the forest reserve.
Ankamaah, who has been discharged from the hospital after suffering injuries to his leg, arm, and back, recounted his experience saying, “I heard an announcement from the Assembly Member at about 2 am on Monday that some people are bringing in an excavator to engage in mining. I saw an individual making a phone call, and I overheard him say the vehicle had arrived. Later, I saw that the truck came. Some residents had gathered and blocked the road.”
He continued, “I was threatened by one of them. I later realized the vehicle was set ablaze, then my wife asked me to get my kids from her mother’s room. While at my wife’s shop, the thugs known as A Thousand Robbers pounced on me. As I struggled with them, they used machetes and sticks to beat me up and inflicted wounds on me.”
Residents are concerned about potential contamination of a vital water source for domestic and irrigation purposes if illegal mining activities persist. They issued a warning of taking decisive measures if the excavator remains within the community. Despite governmental initiatives, illegal mining continues to pose challenges in the Ano South East District, escalating tensions in the region. The current situation remains tense.
Source – citinewsroom.com
