The people of Esaase have drawn a clear line in the sand: no mining near their beloved waterfalls. With voices of defiance and hope, the community has launched a campaign to protect its heritage, land, and rivers from what they fear could be irreversible destruction at the hands of mining companies.
At a press briefing led by the Concerned Youth of Esaase, residents rallied under the banner of environmental preservation, warning that proposed mining operations would poison River Kwartemaa and Oky3ade3—lifelines for drinking water, farming, and everyday survival.
“Our waterfalls are priceless,” declared Emmanuel Boateng, Administrator of the Concerned Youth of Esaase. “We won’t sit back and watch mining destroy our environment and our future. This place can be a thriving tourism hub that benefits everyone, not a wasteland left behind by greed.”
Community elders and women shared emotional appeals, voicing fears over health crises, farmland destruction, and generational poverty if mining is allowed to proceed.
Opanin Akwasi Akwaboah, the Mmrantiehene of Esaase, issued a passionate plea to His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, to step in and safeguard the community’s land, water, and cocoa farms.
“This fight is about more than gold,” Akwaboah stressed. “It is about our culture, our identity, and the legacy we leave for our children. We cannot trade these treasures for short-term gains.”
The community is already working with the Ghana Tourism Authority to explore eco-tourism opportunities, envisioning the waterfalls as a magnet for visitors and a driver of jobs and sustainable development.
Esaase’s resistance has become a rallying cry in Ghana’s broader debate over the environmental costs of mining. As rural communities across the country weigh survival against resource exploitation, Esaase’s stand is clear: the future is worth more than the gold beneath their feet.
By Melody Owusu Agyare
