Land owners within the Akyem Abuakwa State risk losing their lands for life if they release it to illegal miners.The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has indicated that, all lands mined and abandoned with open pits shall be reclaimed and handed over to the Stool again.Addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people of the Gyaase division in Akyem Abuakwa State as part of activities marking his 25th anniversary celebration on the ascension to the Ofori Panin Stool, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin announced that, the incident of illegal mining coupled with the many abandoned open pits continue to pose health risk to the citizens.He indicated that all abandoned mines shall be reclaimed by the traditional council and same be taken over for life."We have a decree at the State Council that, any land owner who releases his/her land to a miner stand the chance of losing it for life if the miners do not reclaim the land after mining.
We shall look for resources and reclaim those lands and hold the interest in that land and nobody can do anything about it," Okyenhene said.He expressed worry over the devastation being caused by illegal mining and its health implications within mining communities in the country."Today some new babies are born with deformities.
Some without hands, eyes and all forms of deformities due to the toxicity nature of the chemicals left in our waters and land.
People come here to mine, destroy our lands and leave to their hometown and enjoy and you sit here as a land owner and continue to release your land for illegal miners?