The Concerned Youth of Akyem Sagyemanse have issued a firm and urgent warning against illegal mining activities threatening the integrity of the Atiwa Forest Reserve, one of Ghana's most ecologically significant and internationally recognized forest zones.
At a community gathering in Sagyemanse, youth leaders, traditional authorities, farmers, and environmental advocates jointly expressed alarm over attempts by an individual identified as Prince Kegya to secure over 800 acres of land within the protected forest for mining.
Kegya, said to be politically connected and allegedly operating with supposed government and traditional approval, was found to have no valid license according to checks by the Minerals Commission. "We were advised by the Regional Office of the Minerals Commission to arrest him if he is found operating in the forest," a youth spokesperson revealed.
Sagyemanse, which lies at the gateway to the Atiwa Forest, has vowed to resist all efforts to grant access to mining operators.
