Kyebi is headquaters of Galamsey

Some indigenes and residents of Kyebi in the Eastern Region say President John Mahama could not have put it any better when he referred to the town as the “Headquarters of Galamsey”.

Speaking under strict condition of anonymous to the ‘Daily Post’ over a three-day period during when the paper was taken to see some of the galamsey sites, the residents and indigenes said anyone who denies the President’s assertion is an enemy of the town in particular and the Abuakwa state in general.

Indeed, the Kyebi landscape is a pathetic sight to behold. Large acres of arable land have been dug in the search for gold. Farmlands have been destroyed and houses are under threats. Deep gullies filled with water have been left unattended to, posing a great danger to the lives of people. A couple of children are said to have died in these craters.

“Many of our lands which we used to farm on have been overtaken by these illegal miners,” one resident lamented.

What irks indigenes even more is the fact that going to these lands (galamsey sites) has become a risky exercise as the illegal miners shoot at anyone “trespassing,” believing the person is coming to mine on their land or steal.

River Birim, which used to be the main source of drinking water for residents of Kyebi has turned yellowish brown as a result of the activities of the illegal miners.

Until President John Mahama commissioned a portable water system for the town a couple of weeks ago, residents of Kyebi depended on sachet (pure) water.

Over the three day period that the ‘Daily Post’ toured the area, 98 residents and indigenes were interviewed. They were unanimous in their verdict that Kyebi is the “headquarters of galamsey.”

“The situation is very bad. Just imagine that one of the galamsey sites is about 100 metres from the Okyehene’s palace” a resident told this paper.

Indeed, one of the sites the ‘Daily Post’ was taken to was at situated right at the backyard of the Okyehene’s palace.

“Don’t you find this incredible?” one of the young men who accompanied the paper asked. Some top politicians in the area as well as chiefs, were pinpointed by the residents as being among those who have sponsored the galamsey activities at Kyebi regardless of the adverse effects on the land.

“Posterity will judge anyone who says the President did not state the obvious when he said, “Kyebi is the headquarters of galamsey” a bitter indigene of the town said in reaction to some negative reactions to President Mahama’s description of Kyebi.

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