The Assemblyman for the Teberebie electoral area, Hon. Bernard Obeng, opinion leaders, and some residents of Teberebie in Tarkwa Nsuaem, Western Region, are calling on the government to rescue them from what they see as an imminent death caused by the mining activities of Anglogold Ashanti Aduaprim Mine.
Complaints have been lodged with the company for almost five years, urging them to relocate or resettle the community so they can continue their lives. Still, the company has ignored these calls and continues blasting, endangering the lives of community members.
UTV News visited the community to witness the impact of the company’s blasting activities. Every household resembles a game centre, with multiple non-functional TVs due to the blasting. Cracks are visible in nearly every building, and residents report they cannot rely on the local water supply because of contamination; bathing in it often requires visiting the clinic twice a month for rash treatment. One frightening experience shared is that your roof can collapse unexpectedly while you are inside, all because of the company’s blasting.
The UTV News team visited the Assemblyman, Hon. Bernard Obeng, and some opinion leaders to understand why they have remained silent on this issue. They stated that the company is not willing to help the residents. Despite several resettlement plans, none have materialised. They are now calling on the government and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to halt the blasting operations of Anglogold Ashanti Aduaprim Mine and to resettle the community. They warn that if the current situation persists, one day we might see headlines saying, “Blasting effect of Anglogold Ashanti Aduaprim Mine has wiped the entire Teberebie community.”
AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), specifically through its Iduapriem Mine, has brought several positive impacts to the Teberebie community, focusing on local economic development, healthcare, and infrastructure. So all that they want is to resettle them so that the company can continue its operation, so that young guys who are working can develop themselves because since they cannot do any project for themselves, they spend what they get anyhow, as if there is no future.
Leave a Reply