Tension continues to mount at Sefwi Afere in the Bodi District of the Western North Region following reports of illegal mining activities in the area. Some residents, including the Abusuapanin of Afere, have accused the Western North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, of being involved in the alleged galamsey operations. The minister has, however, denied the allegations in an interview on Peace FM, stating that he has no connection to any mining activity.
This morning, the National Coordinator for Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development, Ing. Frank Asare Pedro Esq, addressed the issue on De Beat FM, a local radio station in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. Speaking with the host, Esposito Inok Edusei, Ing. Pedro clarified that it was only yesterday he received a call from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources concerning mining activities at Afere.
According to him, a man had visited the Ministry seeking support for what he described as a rock mining project. Ing. Pedro explained that after speaking with the individual, he advised that if they intended to engage in rock mining, they must follow the appropriate legal procedures. He noted that this was his first time hearing about the Afere issue and that his information came directly from the Ministry.
He further explained that although he sent his deputy coordinator to the Western North Region last week to identify potential sites for cooperative mining, he had not yet received a full report on whether Afere was part of that assessment. Based on the information he received from the Ministry, Afere was not included in the cooperative mining program but rather being considered for possible rock mining.
Ing. Pedro stressed that anyone interested in mining must go through the proper legal processes and obtain the necessary documentation. He reminded the public that all land belongs to someone—be it chiefs, families, or the state—and that no one has the right to extract minerals without following due procedures. While surface rights belong to landowners, mineral rights are vested in the government, meaning only the government can grant mining licenses.
He emphasized that before any mining can take place, companies must seek the consent of the landowners or communities, conduct stakeholder consultations, and pay compensation to affected persons. Only after completing these steps can machines be moved onto the site for mining operations.
Ing. Pedro questioned whether the alleged American investors had followed these procedures. He stated that if they had not, their activities would be considered illegal. He added that if the proper process had been followed, there would not have been any confrontation between the company and the community, as community entry and stakeholder consultations form part of the licensing regime.
credit: De Beat FM
