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Mining Communities call for end to brutalities

  • SOURCE: | qwesa2big
  • mining communityThe Concerned Citizens Association of Prestea (CONCAP) has called for an end to brutalisation of residents of Prestea and all other mining communities throughout the country, following a recent incident in the Prestea and Bondaye communities in the Western Region.

    The recent incident in Prestea and Bondage, where some residents beaten and mal-handled by security officers, brought forth how big multi-national mining companies engage security agencies to silence residents from voicing out bad deals being undertaken within their communities.

    Dominic Nyame, a concerned citizen of the community told B&FT after a media conference in Accra that the group was on a peaceful protest to register displeasure against activities of the mining companies in the two communities.

    He cited Golden Star Resources Limited, a mining company operating within the two communities, not adhering to agreement and promises made to the people during its operations.

    “We were on peaceful protest, and in the process most members of the community were severely brutalised by police and military officers.

    “Brutalities in mining communities are not new but are re¬emerging, and this should not be seen in isolation of the recent rampant human rights violations occasioned by the security agencies — especially the police.

    “This is very unfortunate and could have been any of us. Recent brutalities by the police require maximum public rebuke as any of us can fall victim,” he added.

    Mr. Nyame added: “I would have been languishing behind bars if not for the intervention of some media outlets; over 60 residents were also brutalised and mal-handled, and six others were arrested. Our rights were violated, including other members of the communities that were not part of the demonstrators”.

    He therefore called on relevant state institutions to take action to bring the said company to order.

    ‘ We are therefore calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to organise a public hearing in one the communities to be affected by the project; we also call on the Commission for Administrative Justice to investigate the circumstances that led to the brutalities inflicted on unarmed members of the community,” he said.

    Source: B&FT

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