Tension is brewing in Manso Nyakomase, a community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, as residents have risen strongly against what they describe as an unauthorized and illegal land reclamation exercise being planned on their small-scale mining site without their consent.
The agitated residents, made up of small-scale miners, youth, and opinion leaders, have vowed to resist any external interference in the name of reclamation. They insist that the land in question belongs to families and individuals in the community and not to the government or any private company. According to them, they are still actively mining and will not allow anyone to reclaim the land until they have completed their operations.
Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, October 6, 2025, the spokesperson for the community, Mr. Sarkodie Dominic, accused some unknown individuals of attempting to move heavy machinery, including excavators, onto their mining site under the pretext of carrying out reclamation works. He described the move as a deliberate attempt to take over the community’s concession without proper consultation or authorization.
Mr. Sarkodie explained that the mining area does not fall within any government concession, forest reserve, or river buffer zone, but is rather the private property of the people of Manso Nyakomase who depend on it for their livelihoods. He added that the residents are responsible miners who understand the importance of environmental protection and plan to reclaim the land themselves once their mining activities are completed.
He stated that the community will not tolerate any external force taking over their land in the name of reclamation while they are still working. He issued a strong warning to those behind the attempt, demanding that all unauthorized machinery be removed from their land within three days to avoid further confrontation.
Some residents who spoke to the media expressed deep concern over the development, describing it as an act of injustice and disrespect to the people of Manso Nyakomase. They accused certain local leaders of engaging in secret negotiations with outsiders without the knowledge or approval of the community, warning that such betrayal would not be tolerated.
They emphasized that while they are not against land reclamation, it must be done fairly and with their involvement. The residents insisted that they have both the expertise and willingness to reclaim the land themselves once mining operations are concluded. They believe that reclamation should not be used as a pretext to take away their legitimate source of livelihood.
The residents have therefore appealed to the District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, to intervene swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating into conflict. They also called on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, and other relevant authorities to investigate the issue and ensure that justice is served.
According to them, their livelihoods depend entirely on small-scale mining, and any attempt to take their land from them without consultation would be a direct attack on their survival. They cautioned that if the matter is not handled carefully, it could lead to unnecessary confrontations that could threaten the peace of the area.
The residents reiterated their commitment to responsible mining and assured the government of their readiness to reclaim their land once mining is completed. However, they stressed that they would not allow any group or individual to take advantage of the situation to exploit them under the guise of land reclamation.
The situation in Manso Nyakomase remains tense as residents continue to resist what they describe as an unlawful and unfair takeover of their mining concession. Many in the community are hopeful that the intervention of the District Assembly and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will bring lasting peace and fairness to the area.
