The Bekwai Municipal Assembly has revoked its earlier authorization granting New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate hopeful in the area, one Henry Opoku-Ware, and its Japanese nationals to dredge the Oda River.
The local Assembly decided following constant pressure from the residents of Anwiankwanta and Abenkyim near Bekwai where the Oda River serves the people as the only source of drinking
The businessman cum politician is said to be one of the NPP financiers in the Bekwai constituency allegedly brought a letter from the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) to the local Assembly to mine and dredge the Oda River.
The NPP guru also reportedly told the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the area, Hon. Kwaku Kyei Baffour that he has full support from Manhyia Palace and by extension, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to carry out any activity in the Oda River for six good months.
However, upon the vigilance of the residents, it was later uncovered that Mr. Opoku-Ware [OWASS] intends to do illegal mining known in the local parlance as galamsey, hence, swift revocation of the grant by the Municipal Assembly.
An internal memo sighted from the Assembly reads: “The request therefore cannot be granted as such, and you are being asked by the Spatial Planning Committee to stop work with immediate effect”
Confirming the revocation, Aide to OWASS, Anning Oscar, expressed worry about the U-turn taken by the Assembly and stakeholders.
The spokesperson in a Facebook post took a swipe at, accusing the MCE and members of the Assembly Spatial Planning Committee of hatching evil minds against the NPP constituency financier.
According to the spokesperson of Opoku Ware, who has announced his intention to contest the Bekwai parliamentary seat of the ruling NPP, processes leading to the dredging exercise were started with OWASS, the Abenkyiman Traditional Authorities, and the Bekwai Municipal Assembly over the past few months
“Approval was granted by the Bekwai Municipal Assembly based on a series of engagements among, OWASS and its partners from Japan and all important stakeholders, including our local media.
‘The camp of TEAM OWASS and the leader of the team, Mr. Henry Opoku-Ware (OWASS) are saddened and shocked by the recent development.
Meanwhile, some residents have accused MCE, Hon. Kwaku Kyei Baffour of dereliction of duty for supervising the destruction of the environment.
“Already galamsey is ongoing in some parts of the municipality. They now want to turn their illegal activities into Oda River to prospect for gold. The river is full of gold and we know that already. We’re not fools, and we are going to resist them”.
“The rivers are our body and soul and galamsey won’t happen under our watch. The MCE must wake up if he is sleeping. You give six good months for someone to dredge. How? How?.. The residents fumed in an interview with this reporter.
