E/R: Obuoho youth protest ‘unlawful’ burning of excavators by Forestry Commission

Some youth of Obuoho and Obuoho Fante located in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region are demonstrating against what they describe as the unlawful burning of excavators by the Forestry Commission.

The group clad in red and black attire and chanting war songs is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the personnel who burnt the excavators.

Last week some officers of the Rapid Unit of the Forestry Commission who visited the community set ablaze four excavators that were allegedly being used to invade the Atewa Forest and the Ayensu River.

Speaking to Citi News the youth group who denied invading the Atewa Forest to engage in galamsey and called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare, and the National Security Coordinator to immediately intervene to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the Forestry Commission officers whose actions were not sanctioned by the President.

The Assembly Member for Anum Apapamu North Adu-Gyamfi Douglas briefing the media reiterated the call from the youth indicating that the absence of small-scale mining in the community will increase the number of social vices.

“There is no work here, about five years ago, you could hear incidents of robbery and those kinds of stuff but for some time now, because of the small-scale mining, these social vices have reduced. If the small-scale mining sieze, it is going to affect the community.

“My checks indicate that one site can employ 50 people so with the two sites here, it means about 100 people work here,” he stated.