Residents Clash with Alleged Illegal Reclamation Team
Tension is brewing in Manso Nyakomase, a mining community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, as residents have vowed to resist what they describe as an illegal land reclamation project being initiated on their small-scale mining site without their consent.
The residents, comprising miners, youth, and traditional authorities, have accused some unidentified individuals of attempting to take over their concession under the guise of conducting reclamation works. They insist the land belongs to local families and individuals who depend on it for their livelihoods.
Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, the community spokesperson, Mr. Sarkodie Dominic, disclosed that the alleged operators had brought heavy machinery, including excavators, to the site without any prior engagement with the community.
“We will not sit by and watch anyone reclaim our land while we are still working,” he stated. “This land is our property — not a government concession or forest reserve. We are responsible miners and have plans to reclaim it ourselves once our operations are completed.”
The residents have issued a three-day ultimatum to those behind the operation to remove all machinery from the site or face a strong response from the community.
Some members of the community accused certain local leaders of engaging in secret negotiations with outsiders without their approval, describing such actions as betrayal. They emphasized that any reclamation exercise must involve the rightful landowners and follow due process.
“We are not against reclamation. In fact, we support it,” one miner told reporters. “But it must be done fairly and with the full participation of the community, not used as an excuse to take away our source of income.”
The community has appealed to the District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, to step in and resolve the issue before it escalates into confrontation.
According to the residents, small-scale mining remains their primary means of livelihood, and any unauthorized attempt to reclaim their land would threaten their survival.
As of the time of filing this report, the situation in Manso Nyakomase remains tense, with residents standing firm against what they describe as an unlawful and unjust takeover of their concession.
