The Atipimhene of Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Nana Kwadwo Bonya has urged angry youth who went on demonstration on Wednesday over Mensin Gold Mines issues to cease fire and engage the right authorities to solve their issues amicably.
On Wednesday, 20th July 2022, some angry youths at Bibiani in the Bibiani Anhwiaso municipality of Western North Region embarked on a demonstration after which about six persons were hit by stray bullets.
According to sources, they went on the demonstration to prevent the Omanhene of Anhwiaso Traditional Area who is the Council of State President, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll and his elders from performing rites for the Mensin god before operations at the Mensin Gold Mine will start.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi II, who doubles as the President of the National House of Chiefs, had gone to Bibiani to perform a rite to officially open the Mensin Gold Mine when the demonstrators began firing at the precinct of the Mine.
The demonstrators mostly youth, numbering more than a hundred, clad in red and black, gathered at the shrine to prevent the Chief from performing the rites with claims that Ogyeahoho Gyebi, was not the legitimate chief to perform the rite for the Mensin Gold Mine but rather, Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom ll, the chief of Bibiani.
The demonstrators also accused the Management of Mensin Gold Mines Limited, the Assembly and traditional authorities of refusing to employ the youth in the Municipality.
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But speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa, Nana Kwadwo Bonya explained that before the company employs anybody, it gives out forms for people to fill and allow the Chief and the Assembly Man to sign, adding that the form indicated that most of the employees were indigenes.
Although he admitted that some of the employees were foreigners, he said most of them were also indigenes.
Meanwhile, he urged the youth to calm down for the authorities to sit down and address the issues peacefully.
“Our youth lack education when it comes to employment issues. We know that times are hard and everyone is hungry, but if we are hungry, it does not mean we should use our two hands to eat, it is about patience. I will plead with the youth to exercise patience. Let us all sit and speak about the issue. It is possible that in the next five years, we will possess the mines. The mines were on hold for a long time, if we had gone to learn a trade, we would be doing something for ourselves by now. So, let us all be calm,” he added.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
