GENERAL NEWS

Angry Bosome Freho residents chase out foreign illegal miners from their lands

Some illegal miners at Danso, in the Bosome Freho District of the Ashanti region, have been chased away from their mining site by residents of the community, in fulfillment of their last warning to them a week ago.

Late December 2020, the residents of the community hit the streets to register their displeasure with the activities of illegal miners, most of whom are foreign nationals, vowing to prevent them from destroying their lands, including their cocoa farms and their rivers.

According to an opinion leader, Opanin Kwabena Kyei, residents believe the miners are emboldened because they are getting the blessings of some chiefs from their community, as well as some politicians but they will not allow it to continue.

“Our cocoa farms and other farm produce have been destroyed, our only source of drinking water has been polluted, and the forest around it is under attack,” the residents told journalists.

They also accused the District Chief Executive Officer of Bosome Freho, Yaw Danso, of being part of the syndicate involved in giving the go-ahead to these miners who continue to destroy their lands.

But, according to a report by ghenvironment.org, Yaw Danso has denied the accusation saying it is not his responsibility to secure the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve, which is obviously under serious attack as a result of the illegal activities.

Making true their warning, the Concerned Citizens of Danso moved out in their numbers and chased out the miners, led by their Chairman, Opanin Kwabena Kyei.

“The Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve and River Danne define our lives and we owe it a duty of care,” he told ghenvironment.org.

He added that although they had threatened to resort to bloodshed should it require it, in their attempt to get the miners out, they however did not execute any such threats.

Their next step, he said, is to totally reclaim the land and begin farming on them.

UNESCO has said that the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve is home to a great diversity of wildlife and important for the survival of Lake Bosomtwe, stating that it is widely necessary for research, especially on climate change, as well as environmental education.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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