Mining of bauxite in Atewa Forest: Residents of communities protest

Residents of communities around the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region yesterday embarked on a protest against the proposed mining of bauxite in the forest.

The protestors carried placards, some of which read, “Save Atewa Forest Now”, “Atewa is our heritage” and “Save our water bodies.”

They later converged on Kyebi, the capital of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, to express their misgivings through a press conference.

Petition

In a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which was read by the chairman of the group, Mr Oteng Adjei, the protestors said the most worrying threat to the forest was the destruction of water bodies including the three major rivers — Birim, Ayensu and Densu — all of which take their source from the Atewa Forest.

He said already the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADC) had entered the forest to explore and had drilled 53 points where the mining would take place, with the claim that the mining would take place in the northern part of the forest which would not affect the southern part.

“Interestingly, the water table at the specific place being referred to is such that when you dig three metres deep, you will meet water. The bauxite is six metres deep and beyond, so the obvious conclusion is that the water will be reached before the bauxite is extracted.

Tributaries of rivers

Mr Adjei emphasised that the exploration process had already passed through about six tributaries of the rivers in the forest, namely Pusupusu River, Supon River, and the Obeyaa, Twafour and Afrancho streams.

“This means that obviously water will be affected, and the danger starts with our communities,” Mr Adjei added.

He further stated that the headwaters of the Supon River on which the pumping station of the Asiakwa community sat and which supplied water to over 3,000 residents, also fell within the catchment area and would be affected by the mining.

Mr Adjei alleged that the exploration and drilling process alone had destroyed a total land area of over 100 hectares.

He said they were also petitioning the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Gutteres, and the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, to add their voices to their call and advocate that the government rather upgrade the status of the forest to a national park.

Appeal

The chairman of the group urged President Akufo-Addo to rescind the decision to allow mining in the forest and rather declare the forest as a national park, to set an example deserving of his position as the co-Chair of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Atewa, as a national park, would be a lasting, positive legacy to the government of Ghana. This option has great public support among forest edge communities and will honour Ghana’s commitment to the international convention on biological diversity and to the SDGs,” he said.

To the investor community, Mr Adjei said: “We, as concerned citizens, will resist every effort to mine in the Atewa Forest. It will be better if you invested in eco-tourism which has great potential.”

Mr Adjei called on all Ghanaians both home and abroad to join in the fight against the mining.