The Mmrantihene of Akyem Asuom, Nana Awuah Baffour, has provided clarity on the recent unrest in the community, attributing the youth's revolt against illegal miners to unresolved monetary issues.
Last week, the youth of Akyem Asuom took a bold stand against illegal mining activities in the area and chased away illegal miners operating in the community.
This significant action was said to have been part of the community's growing frustration with the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly known as "galamsey." The Kontihene of the area, Nana Boadi Ampomenim Abodade III, said they had written to several security agencies and the Minerals Commission yet there has been no response.
But Nana Baffour told Bernard Avle in an interview on the Point of View on Channel One TV that the youth's actions were driven by concerns over the management and allocation of funds generated from the mining activities.
The Mmrantihene emphasised the youth's demand for transparency and proper management of funds to ensure that the community benefits from the mining activities.
He also highlighted the youth's demand for the establishment of a town development committee to oversee the allocation of funds for developmental projects. "We had a misunderstanding over the work ongoing here.
It is a monetary issue, a lot of them didn't understand the channel through which the money went.
So, the youth decided to challenge that and call for change.
We need to have a town development committee so that the money goes directly into developmental projects in this community.
That is why the youth revolted against the activities," explained Nana Awuah Baffuor. "The youth decided that if they did not know or were not informed about what the money was used for, then they would stop the mining activities and sit with the miners so that they pay what was due to them.
Those who have not reclaimed their lands would be made to do so.
That is why that happened," he added.
Meanwhile, Dominic Ofori Forson, the incoming Asafoatse of the community insisted that the youth's revolt was against the destruction of the community's resources.
He indicated that the monetary issue was a secondary matter.