Danger looming as illegal mining activities threaten Obuasi Airport, Military Barracks

Fear and uneasiness are growing among residents of Adaase, a farming community in Obuasi, due to the alarming surge in illegal mining activities in the area and surrounding communities.

These activities pose a significant threat to critical infrastructure, including the Obuasi Airport, the ongoing construction of a military barracks, and other key installations. Despite widespread condemnation and efforts by groups such as the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, the menace persists.

In an effort to combat illegal mining, Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II, Chief of Kwapia, led a team comprising police officers and members of the National Investigations Bureau to arrest five illegal miners at Adaase in the Obuasi Municipality.

Speaking to the media after the arrests, Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II highlighted the devastating impact of illegal mining in the area, including the destruction of arable lands and the creation of dangerous pits. He revealed that 3,000 plots of land, originally earmarked for the construction of a hostel facility, had been handed over to illegal miners by local traditional authorities from Akrokerri, effectively halting the project.

"This vast land you see has been destroyed by illegal miners. Recently, a farmer who planned to use his oil palm plantation to supply an oil palm factory had his entire farm wiped out by these activities, yet nobody seems to care," he lamented.

The chief also raised concerns about the proximity of the illegal mining operations to AngloGold Ashanti’s airport, warning that the ongoing destruction could put the facility at risk. He questioned why the company had remained silent on the issue.

Additionally, he alleged that the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Goes Agro project failed to materialize because illegal miners took over and destroyed the farmland designated for the initiative.

Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II placed the blame for the surge in illegal mining on former Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive Elijah Adansi-Bonah, accusing him of being deeply involved in the practice.

"The former MCE was heavily involved in illegal mining. He directly participated in and oversaw the destruction of these lands. I will take legal action against him," he stated.

He further argued that the former MCE’s involvement in illegal mining contributed to the poor performance of the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 general elections.

Supporting the chief’s claims, Collins, a youth leader in Adaase, expressed concerns that the rampant illegal mining could deter people from settling in the community. He emphasized that the presence of an airport and a military camp made Adaase a prime area, but the illegal mining activities threatened efforts to develop it into a first-class residential zone.

Papa Yaw, a resident, voiced his frustration over the destruction of water bodies and farmlands, stressing that the community had not benefited in any way from the illegal mining, which has drawn nationwide condemnation.