48 Communities Of Kyebi March Against Mining Of Atiwa Forest

Communities around the Atiwa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region continue to demonstrate their displeasure against the government’s betrothal of that important eco reserve to the Chinese for bauxite mining.

Today, people from some 48 communities chanted war songs as they marched through principal streets of the area, as part of the resistance against the move by government to have the forest which is a critical source of water, dug up for bauxite.

Led by pressure group, Concerned Citizens of the Atiwa Landscape, the marchers made it clear that they did not buy the government’s claim that Sinohydro, the Chinese company offered the virgin forest reserve to rape, will do a so-called responsible mining that will not hurt the environment.

Sinohydro already has government’s commitment after it shelled out a whopping US$2billion for the right to mine the Atiwa Forest, a critical piece eco-system that remained a reserve until the Akufo-Addo government came into office in 2017.

Today’s demonstration is a follow-up to a number of demonstrations that have already been held against the government’s decision. But all the protests have fallen on thick ears as a recalcitrant government pushes through the barter arrangement with the Chinese.