Residents of four communities in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have given Day Shine Company Limited, a Chinese-owned quarry company, one week to address concerns over its blasting activities and the damage they say it has caused.
The affected communities – Amoamo, Anwiam, Amenase and Adankrangya -held a peaceful demonstration, accusing the company of blasting rocks without giving enough warning to residents.
The protesters marched through the communities carrying placards with messages such as “We Are Slaves in Our Own Communities” and “Please Come to Our Aid.”
They later presented petitions to the company, traditional leaders and the Bekwai Municipal Assembly.
The Assembly Member for Adankrangya, Abigail Opoku, said repeated blasting had caused cracks in houses, injured some residents and damaged the environment. She claimed that affected residents had not received compensation from the company.
She also alleged that the quarry’s activities had polluted water bodies, destroyed farmlands and affected farming in the area.
Ms. Opoku appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the government and environmental regulators to investigate the matter and protect the affected communities.
She said the residents are not against development but want quarry operations to be carried out safely and responsibly.
The residents warned that if the company fails to respond within one week, they will petition the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace for further action.
Some protesters also claimed that attempts were made to stop them from demonstrating and called for an independent investigation into the operations of quarry companies in the area.
Receiving the petition, the Bekwai Municipal Coordinating Director, Philimon Ankoli, assured the residents that the Assembly would work with the relevant authorities to address their concerns and provide feedback after consultations.
Source: GNA