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01.10.2014 Regional News

Ellembelle District Place Embargo On Building Permit In Nkroful

By Ebenezer Sabutey & Anita Frimpong
Ellembelle District Place Embargo On Building Permit In Nkroful
01.10.2014 LISTEN

The Elembelle District Assembly has placed an embargo on granting building permits to the people of Nkroful following several clashes between some members of the community and the Adamus Resources over a land concession in the area.

Members of the community have been agitating against the operations of the Gold mining company (AdamusResources) due to the maltreatment they have been receiving from their security personnel's and some military men on their farmlands thereby denying them of their livelihoods.

Following several meetings by the Chief of NkrofulNana KwasiKutuah V and Elders (including Assembly members) with the District Assembly Management, it was made clear that for the District Assembly to lift the embargo it has placed on the giving of building permit to some part of the Nkroful community, the Adamus Resources Ltd (ARL) has to be allowed to demarcate its buffer zone.

From Saturday 19th July, ARL commenced the supposed buffer zoning exercise however with some other activities which are creating anxiety, fear and panic among the people.

The household ownership information and the taking of photographs of property owners and the filling of some forms, are feared by the people as the beginning of a process which will culminate in the resettlement of the people leaving in the affected area of the community.

Meanwhile, several discussions with the Assembly members indicate that the Company had a meeting with the Chief and some Elders of the Nkroful Community resident in Accra relating to the on-going exercise.

Upon a petition cited by this journalist to the Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, the concerned youth of Nkroful hinted that the Chief of Nkrofulhowever received the report from one of the Assembly members, regarding the operations done beyond the buffer zone and ordered for the exercise to be stopped.

Unfortunately, the Company is still going on with its work.

“The Chief, Nana KwasiKutuah has not yet come to let the community understand in detail, what constitute the Accra Accord” a source told me.

In the wake of the several youth groups agitating and pressuring the Assembly Members to step aside and allow them confront the Company on the Exercise, the concerned citizens of the area has petitioned the Paramount chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, AwulaeAmihereKpanyile III to intervene and bring an end to the matter.

As at the time of filling this story, I contacted the District Chief Executive of the Elembelle District Assembly, Daniel Eshun and he said he cannot have an interview with me because he is having a big event with the Regional Minister and the Minister of Energy who also happens to be the Member of Parliament for the area therefore we should rescheduled the interview to another day within the week from Wednesday going.

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