Traditional authorities and youth groups in Berekum have taken to the streets in a decisive show of defiance against what they describe as the alarming re-emergence of illegal mining activities within the municipality. The protest, which saw a unified front of community leaders and residents, signals a growing impatience with the degradation of local lands and water bodies.
Participants in the march expressed profound concern over the return of excavators and illegal mining operations to areas previously cleared of such activity. The demonstration served as a platform for the community to issue a direct warning to operators and their financiers, demanding an immediate cessation of all unauthorised mining ventures.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional council, community leaders emphasised that the protection of Berekum’s natural resources is a non-negotiable obligation to future generations. The marchers specifically criticised the impact of these operations on local agriculture and the contamination of water sources, which they argue are vital to the municipality’s socio-economic survival.
The protest in Berekum highlights a broader national trend where local communities are increasingly taking the lead in environmental protection, often operating ahead of state-led enforcement initiatives. By mobilising both the youth and the elders, the organisers aim to create a community-wide bulwark against the encroachment of illegal mining, which continues to be a contentious issue across the Bono region and the country at large.
The demonstrators have called on the municipal assembly and relevant security agencies to increase surveillance in the affected districts and hold perpetrators accountable. Local representatives have pledged to maintain vigilance, warning that further encroachment will be met with more robust community action to protect the environment.
