The Effutu Traditional Council together with the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council in the Central Region have rise to gnash its teeth against Green Metal Resources Limited (GMRL), a mining consortium which is said to invade the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site and Yenku Forest Reserve in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality in pursuance of lithium.

This was after the Finance Minister in his 2024 budget statement announced that permission has been granted the mining firm to undertake large scale mining in the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site and Yenku Forest Reserve which covers over 6.93 square kilometres.

Concerned Traditional Leaders in Effutu and Gomoa Akyempim in a press conference held at Winneba on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, called on the Minerals Commission to rescind its decision to grant mining concessions in the aforementioned forest reserve to GMRL, else they will be forced to resort to all means available to ensure the area is totally secured for future generations.

The conference which was heavily represented by leaders of the two Effutu Asafo groups, youths, fisherfolks, traditional leaders, family heads, stakeholders among others,  equally saw a delegation from the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council, represented by Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, Paramount Chief of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area.

Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobrah II, Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area at the press conference stated that they won't sit unconcerned for the forest reserve, their farmlands, and the Muni Lagoon together with their water bodies to be destroyed and further render their community inhabitable over the mining activity.

Neenyi Ghartey VII, Paramount Chief for Effutu Traditional Area noted that they won't compromise for the forest reserve to be destroyed to subsequently pollute the area's water bodies mainly for the interest of a few individuals at the expense of the entire Effutu kindred.

Stressing that the benefit to be derived from the mining activity in comparison comes nowhere near the benefit the people of Effutu is currently enjoying from the forest reserve, thus will be inhuman of they the leaders of the area to permit for such mining to materialize.

According to them, several attempts has been made by government to secure the area for mining but has all been kicked against, hence cannot phantom what necessitated the issuance of permit to Green Metal Resources Limited this time around to mine at the area.

The Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site in question, forms part of Ghana’s five Coastal Ramsar sites which comprises of the Muni Lagoon, the Yenku Forest Reserve, the surrounding flood plains and the adjacent sandy beach on the seafront.

The Yenku Forest having been traditionally conserved for over 500 years by the people of Efuttu to protect the bushbuck population due to the important role it plays in their annual festival, equally serves as the traditional hunting grounds for the Effutu people during their ‘Aboakyire Festival’ (Deer Hunting) which is usually celebrated between May and June every year.

Source//Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan