Ashanti RCC Bans Mining at Nweneso Enclave for 2 Weeks Over Land Degradation

The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council has placed a two-week ban on all mining activities at Nweneso No. 1 and No. 2 in the Atwima Kwanwoma Municipality.

The ban will remain until the Council is satisfied with reclamation efforts on lands degraded by illegal mining.

The directive follows the Council’s assessment that vast portions of land in the Nweneso enclave have been destroyed by illegal miners.

Alhaji Abubakar Omaro Nje, Deputy Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, who led a team of security agencies to inspect the affected areas at Nweneso No. 1 and No. 2, said the Council is partnering with private institutions to reclaim the degraded lands.

According to him, the Regional Security Council, RESEC, has directed miners in the community to undertake reclamation of the degraded lands within the two-week period.

The RCC says it will continue to monitor the area to ensure compliance.

He added that licensed miners will only be allowed to resume operations after the Council is satisfied with their commitment to land recovery.

He however, warned members of small scale miners Association to ensure that, they follow due process of mining activities else any seized excavator machine will not return to the owner.

Mr. Robert Dambo, Operations Manager of Denmark Prime Company partnering with the government on reclamation initiative also expressed his company’s commitment to partner with government on the reclamation initiative.