Residents of Wasa Supanso near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region are lamenting the inhuman behaviours of some Chinese machomen in the community.
They complained of being severely beaten, molested and threatened with guns by men who have been paid to give protection to Chinese galamseyers for speaking against the destruction of their only source of water.
Speaking on Hope FM 107.1 yesterday, a resident of the area, Mr Mark Sarkodie, revealed that the Odikro of the community by name, Adwoaba Attaa, together with the Assemblyman and the Unit Committee Chairman have given their houses to the Chinese for accommodation.
He added that anytime the residents try to stop them from destroying their source of water and cocoa plantations, these men would rise against the community.
According to Mr Sarkodie, the community is requesting to know whether the Operation Vanguard task force which was created to handle the illegal mining activities in the districts was still at work or the ban on galamsey has been lifted.
To this end, he called for the arrest of the Chinese nationals involved and also appealed to the government to rescue the people of Wassa Supanso from these ‘heartless machomen.’
Later this year, an incident occurred in the district which saw a Ghanaian citizen allegedly killed by a Chinese national.
Mr Sarkodie however, made it clear that they will not allow a repeat of this ‘painful incident.’
Meanwhile, the Takoradi District Court has adjourned the case involving a Chinese businessman, Jian Gen Hai, who shot and killed one Nana Boah, a 29-year-old Ghanaian at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region, to December 17, 2017.
Presiding Judge, Thomas K. Ofiedie, adjourned the case after the prosecution team pleaded with the court to give them additional time to gather enough evidence for effective prosecution.
Juan Gen Hai was remanded into police custody on his first appearance in court on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 after Police Inspector, Bernard Paa Ahinsan, who represented the state, prayed for two weeks to gather enough evidence to assist the prosecution.
The killing of Nana Boah sparked riots in Wassa Akropong with angry youth setting ablaze properties belonging to Chinese nationals in the area.
Paramount Chief of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II, had to intervene in the situation, which also saw the police relocating about 48 Chinese nationals to a safer place.
Minerals & Mining Matters with Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu