10-acre site retrieved from galamseyers in Ashanti Region

The Ashanti Regional Security Task Force has retrieved about 10 acres of forest reserve that had been hijacked by illegal mining operators in the Offinso shelter belt in the Atwima Mponua District. 

The land had been besieged by armed illegal miners whose presence posed a serious threat to efforts to root out their activities.

"We initially gave them an ultimatum to leave the site peacefully or we get them out. Some left, and some were still adamant.

So finally, with support from the joint security team, we have been able to retrieve the over 10 acres of this rich forest reserve," the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, told the Daily Graphic.

This happened after Dr Amoakohene, who took office just about four weeks ago, insisted that he was poised to “rebuilding Ashanti Region”. 

Courtesy call

The Ashanti Regional Minister made the remarks when a three-member delegation of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) led by the Zonal Business Manager for Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Northern sector, Benjamin Tsatsu Korsinah, paid him a working visit at his office at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council in Kumasi to officially welcome him to the region.

It was also to enhance ties between the Graphic brands and the Regional Coordinating Council in promoting credible news in the region.

Among the delegation was the Senior Finance and Administration Officer of GCGL, Christian Nouchie, and an Executive Member of the Ashanti Regional Vendors Association, Stephen Asante.

Galamsey fight

The Regional Minister, along with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and a joint armed police and military task force stormed the Offinso shelter belt to reclaim the over 10-acre forest reserve, which until the intervention had been hijacked by illegal mining activities.

"We went there to see the level of damage, and see how best we were going to reclaim those lands," the minister reiterated, adding that under his watch, illegal mining activities in the region would be reduced to the barest minimum if not eliminated.

‘Tree for Life’ launch

Dr Amoakohene said as part of measures to educate the masses on the devastating nature of illegal mining activities, the Lands Ministry would launch a programme dubbed "Tree for Life" in the coming weeks at the reclaimed site in the Offinso shelter belt.

He said the Lands Minister had assured the Regional Coordinating Council that Ashanti Region would be used as pilot grounds for the Tree for Life project, which would seek to promote afforestation and enhance responsible mining in the region, with the success stories replicated across the country.

"As a government, we want to help the miners (to) do it the right way by getting the right licensing, the right documentation, the right supervision, so that they can reclaim the land as they mine," Dr Amoakohene said, adding that the government did not underestimate the hundreds of jobs responsible mining could also create for the youth.

Markets redevelopment

The minister said he had also taken steps to engage managers and traders of the new Kejetia Market to address some concerns of traders, and to put in measures to ensure the continuity and possible timely completion of the second phase of the Kejetia/Central Market Redevelopment Project.

"We have also been able to make a bold decision on the management of Kejetia. It's been an albatross on our necks; the management has been less functional for almost two years now," he said, adding that it seemed there was a communication gap between the board and the management.

"Funds locked up in escrow accounts, insurance for the facility not renewed for almost three years now; (everything is in) a huge mess," Dr Amoakohene said.

He said his team would further engage managers on the delayed second phase of the Central Market Project, and ensure its successful completion and operations to decongest the city of the hundreds of displaced traders who had now moved into the streets to sell.

Decongestion

Dr Amoakohene said he had ordered that stalls, containers and other illegal structures mounted at unapproved places be pulled down.

He said encroachment, especially within the central business district of Kumasi, was disheartening, and urged residents to cooperate with city authorities to help decongest Kumasi and ensure a free flow of traffic.

Graphic ties

Mr Korsinah said GCGL would continue to strengthen ties with the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to tell their stories in conformity with the tenets of Daily Graphic: “Truth and Accuracy Every Day”.

Moreover, he said, the company was gradually increasing its presence on social media with the Graphic Online Platforms, as well as the Graphic NewsPlus, which gave readers the opportunity to access daily copies of all of the brands on the Graphic stable, namely Daily Graphic, The Mirror, Graphic Sports, Graphic Showbiz, Graphic Business, and Junior Graphic, in real time.

Mr Korsinah handed the regional minister and some staff of the RCC free subscription to Graphic NewsPlus to give them timely, convenient and credible news by the use of the app on their mobile phones.