There is growing fear and uneasiness among residents of Adaase, a farming community in Obuasi, over the upsurge of illegal mining activities in the area.
Illegal mining continues to pose danger to the Obuasi Airport, ongoing construction of military barracks and other key installations in the area.
In his bid to fight illegal mining, Chief of Kwapia, Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II, led a team comprising Police and the National Investigations Bureau to ransack operations of the miners in the enclave.
Five illegal miners were rounded up in the security swoop.
Speaking to the media after the arrest, Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II explained the activities of the miners have destroyed arable lands and created life-threatening holes in the area.
He alleges 3,000 plots of land earmarked for the construction of a hostel facility to some illegal miners by traditional authorities in Akrokerri.
“This vast land you see around has been destroyed by galamseyers. Recently, a farmer had his oil palm plantation expected to feed his oil palm factory destroyed by these illegal miners, yet nobody seemed to be concerned,” he lamented.
Nana Oyiakwan indicated the AGA Airport, situated close to an illegal mining site, is being threatened.
He also claimed that the ‘Obuasi Goes Agro’ project could not materialise after farms allocated for the project were taken over and destroyed by illegal miners.
He blamed a former MCE for Obuasi for his involvement in the menace as he seeks legal action against him.
“The former MCE was deck-deep in galamsey, he was directly involved and superintended to the destruction of the lands here. I will initiate court processes against him,” he said.
Some youth leaders at Adaase fear the activities of galamsey could derail efforts of making the community a residential abode for many.
They said the existence of the airport and a military camp attracted economic activities to the area.
Papa Yaw, a resident of the area, bemoaned the impact of the destruction of water bodies and farmlands.