Prestea Youth call for resettlement of residents

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The youth of Prestea have called on Bogoso Gold Mining Company (BGL), a subsidiary of Golden Star Resources of Canada, to resettle residents before embarking on their surface mining operations in the town in line with acceptable international standard practice.

Mr Kwesi Blay, Secretary of the Concern Citizens Association of Prestea, told the Ghana News Agency that the blasting of rocks and dumping of waste in the town were exposing the residents to untold hardships.

He said soldiers have since 2002 been deployed in the town to cow anybody, who attempted to question the appropriateness of the activities of BGL.

Mr Blay said BGL dumped mine waste on the main road leading to the Government Hospital in the town. He said the road was reopened only when the youth protested and insisted that an alternate road be constructed before the closure.

He said for no apparent reason the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appeared unable to carry out its mandate of ensuring the well-being of the residents of Prestea.

"Anytime one came out to protest against the corporate impunity of BGL, the one is branded as belonging to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Even a former local Executive member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who decided to come out against the atrocities BGL is visiting on the residents of Prestea has been accused of having joined the camp of NDC," Mr Blay said.