The youth of Dwenewoho in the Ahafo Ano South West District of Ashanti Region have called for the intervention of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to stop Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah, the chief of Akropong in the Nwabiagya South District.
They have also called for sanctions against Nana Twumase Ampofo, the odikro of Dwenewoho for his involvement in galamsey operations in the area.
The youth are angered by the banning orders of the Akroponghene to Nana Akosua Konadu, a fetish priestess at Dwenewoho.
The chief summoned the priestess to his Palace recently and ordered her to move out from the area because she is not a native.
Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah told the woman in the presence of Nana Twumasi Ampofo, the odikro of Dwenewoho community, that she has no right to stand in the way of miners in the area.
The chief also reportedly noted that her presence there is an impediment to his galamsey operations on the lands which he owns.
As a result, Nana Konadu’s shrine has been encroached and destroyed by illegal miners including three Chinese nationals preventing her from operating as a fetish priestess.
The Akroponghene has also threatened the fetish priestess never to lodge any complaint at any quarters against his decision in her own interest.
Destruction of the farmlands and rivers in the area have since began without restraint as Rivers Asikasu and Betinko have been polluted and degraded as excavators are busily operating without restraint at the instance of the two chiefs.
The development has incensed the youth of Dwenewoho, who kicked against proposals of the Dwenewoho odikro alias Kofi Jeff, a fortnight ago to allow mining in the area in aid of communal development.
Kofi Asante, a native of Dwenewoho said during a meeting with the stool elders of Dwenewoho, the youth were angry with the complicity of the chiefs in the operations of illegal mining.
They realised the odikro, who had convened the meeting, wanted to mine in the area with the pretext that he wanted to reclaim mined areas and wanted their consent.
The youth have, therefore, appealed to the government and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene and stop the chiefs behind illegal mining in the Dwenewoho area saying galamsey is not in the best interest of the youth and therefore not beneficial in any way.
Nana Kwame Appiah has not returned calls to his cell phone for his reactions to the complaints. He has also not responded to sms and WhatsApp messages.
