Asante Akyem Bompata Residents Protest Against Proposed Mining Operations by BB Brothers Limited and Other Firms — Appeal to President Mahama and Otumfuo to Halt Mining Plans
The entire town of Bompata in the Asante Akyem South Municipality of the Ashanti Region was thrown into a state of public outcry as residents staged a massive protest against the proposed mining operations by BB Brothers Limited and other prospective mining companies in the area. The demonstrators, made up of chiefs, youth, women groups, farmers, and opinion leaders, marched through the principal streets of the community, appealing passionately to former President John Dramani Mahama and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene and stop what they describe as an impending environmental and social disaster.
Clad in red attire and armbands, the residents carried placards bearing messages such as “No Mining in Bompata,” “We Need Farmlands, Not Excavators,” “Protect Our Water Bodies,” and “Our Land, Our Heritage.” The protest was peaceful but charged with emotion, as demonstrators voiced fears that mining in the area would destroy their farmlands, pollute water sources, and displace hundreds of families who depend on agriculture for survival.
Addressing the media during the protest, the spokesperson for the demonstrators, Mr. Kwaku Adu, said the residents were deeply concerned about the government’s alleged granting of exploration licenses to BB Brothers Limited and other mining companies without any form of proper consultation with the traditional authorities and the local population. He stressed that Bompata is predominantly an agricultural community whose mainstay is cocoa, food crop farming, and livestock rearing, and that any form of mining would be detrimental to their livelihood and environment.
“We are not against development, but we cannot sit down and watch our lands, forests, and rivers destroyed. We depend on farming and clean water to live. Once mining starts, our future is gone. We therefore appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to step in quickly to stop this plan before it’s too late,” Mr. Adu emphasized.
He added that similar mining operations in nearby communities have led to massive land degradation, polluted rivers, and the collapse of local economies, stressing that Bompata would not allow history to repeat itself. The community, he said, is united and ready to defend its lands through lawful means.
Some women leaders who joined the protest also expressed their fears about the potential health risks associated with mining activities. They lamented that mining could lead to the contamination of rivers and streams that serve as the only sources of water for the community. “We have seen what mining has done in other towns — children falling sick, farmlands destroyed, and families displaced. We won’t allow that to happen here,” one of the women said.
Traditional leaders in Bompata have also thrown their weight behind the protest, calling for a halt to any planned mining activity in their jurisdiction. They stated that the traditional council was never consulted before the companies were allegedly given the green light to explore, a move they described as a violation of community rights and customs. The chiefs have vowed to protect the integrity of their lands and ensure that any development project in Bompata aligns with the community’s long-term sustainability.
The residents presented a petition to the Asante Akyem South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for onward submission to the President, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Manhyia Palace. In the petition, they demanded an immediate revocation of all mining licenses or permits issued within the Bompata Traditional Area. They further appealed for government intervention in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and clean water initiatives instead of mining ventures that could destroy their ecosystem.
The protest ended peacefully, with residents vowing to continue their advocacy until their voices are heard and the mining plans are halted.
The people of Bompata remain firm in their resolve — that their future lies not in the destruction of their land but in the preservation of their natural environment for generations to come.
