Amansie South Small-Scale Miners Protest Alleged Attacks, Extortion by Security Personnel

Small-scale miners in the Amansie South District staged a peaceful demonstration against what they describe as repeated attacks and extortion by security personnel operating in their area who are not from the camp of NAIMOS.

The miners, who marched through parts of Manso Keniago accused security teams from other districts, including Atwima Nponua district of storming their sites, arresting some members, destroying equipment, and demanding money.

Some of the aggrieved miners, said the operatives do not come from Amansie South. “They come from different districts like Atwima Nponua and others.

They always come to our sites to destroy our equipment,” he told reporters.

They said government had introduced *NAIMOS* as the body responsible for overseeing legal small-scale mining. “So the activities of these self-acclaimed security personnel are strange,” he said.

Some affected miners also shared their grievances with the media, alleging harassment and financial demands during arrests.

Mr. Wahab Chebsa, an executive of the small-scale miners and a leading member of the NDC, used the demonstration to appeal to *President John Mahama*. He urged the President to revoke the appointment of some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives who, he claimed, “aim to disturb individuals for their personal gains.”