Demonstration being led by Nana Nteboah IV
It appears the only language government officials understand in Ghana is demonstration. Residents of Prestea, Himan and other surrounding villages in the Prestea/Huni-Valley District of the Western Region including the Chief, elders, women and children on January 28, 2014 organised a huge protest in the mining town of Prestea to register their anger over the worsening economic conditions in the area.
The Chief and people also protested against the poor road network, alleged joint military and police harassment and the fact that the underground mine being managed by Golden Star Resources Limited in the area had not benefited the people.
The protest, which was led by the Chief of Prestea-Himan, Nana Nteboah IV, brought activities in the entire Prestea townships to a halt and attracted dozens of police officers from the Regional Police Command.
Clad in red attire and arm-bands, the demonstrators marched through the principal streets of Prestea holding placards some of which read: ?Prestea is not Afghanistan?, ?Surface mining will kill us?, ?Bring here our processing plant? and Prestea Himan deserves good roads?.
The demonstrators later presented a petition to the President John Mahama through the Prestea/Bogoso District Chief Executive, Wisdom Cudjoe.
Revamping of Underground Mine
The demonstrators alleged that during the 2012 electioneering campaign, the NDC promised to revamp the underground mine in Prestea so that it could create job for ?galamsey? operators in the area, but till date no significant work had been done.
The chief of Himan, Nana Nteboah IV mentioned that the absence of the underground mine had made many people at Himan/Prestea engaged in illegal mining activities also called ?galamsey? since there were no jobs for them.
He noted that revamping the underground mine would have absorbed many of the youth who were engaged in galamsey.
He revealed that in 2012, the then minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Mike Hamah requested for one year action plan which aimed at revamping the underground mine but nothing was done about it
?Your Excellency President John Mahama we are appealing to you to enforce the mining company in the area to concentrate on the underground mine rather than surface mining at Prestea?, he added.
The chief continued ?the underground mine used to employ about 3000 youth in the area until it was placed under care and maintenance in 2002 when about 98 per cent of the workers were laid off?.
Bad Roads
Nana Nteboa IV revealed that the Prestea Huni Valley district town roads were deplorable and not motorable. He said the roads were rugged, dusty and become muddy during the raining season.
The chief alleged that the inhabitants were being harassed by some military and police personnel embarking on operation ?Calm Life? and highway patrols in the Prestea area. He alleged that the personnel normally extort money from the people including drivers, farmers, welders and blacksmiths among others at the slight mistake.
Nana Nteboah IV appealed to President John Mahama to help restore Prestea to its past glory since there were lots of resources in the area, which when managed well could boost the socio-economic development of the country.
Results
The people of Prestea were excited when they realized that their peaceful demonstration had an impact. This is because a day after the demonstration two government officials, the Minister of Roads and highways, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani and Minister of Natural Resources,Lands and Forestry, visited the area.
The two ministers pledged that the government would restore Prestea to its status as a vibrant mining town. They indicated that there plans to reactivate the Prestea underground mine, while infrastructure in the mining town would also improved.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
