Illegal miners have taken over land meant for a school park at Konkoma in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region. The activity has left the area badly degraded and unsafe for residents.
The miners, in their search for gold, have dug dangerously close to the Konkoma D/A Basic School and the community health centre. These two public facilities serve as the main education and healthcare providers in the community.
Moreover, the land once used as a playground for pupils and a park for residents is now filled with open pits and loose soil. The mining site is located less than 100 meters from the school and health centre.
According to school authorities, the situation poses a major safety risk to pupils. The uncovered pits could cause serious accidents. In addition, stagnant water in the pits has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, worsening health conditions for patients at the nearby facility.
Assembly Member for the Konkoma Electoral Area, Stephen Abrokwah, described the situation as alarming. He therefore called for urgent action to protect lives and restore the affected land.
Meanwhile, officials from National Security have arrested some individuals believed to be involved in the illegal mining.
District Chief Executive for Bosomtwe, Engineer Abdullah Hamidu, has since begun a land reclamation exercise to restore the site. He assured residents that those responsible will face the full force of the law.
Furthermore, the Bosomtwe District Assembly is urging residents to support ongoing efforts to stop illegal mining. By doing so, the Assembly believes the community’s environment and public facilities can be protected for future generations.
