Residents at Gyedu, one of Newmont’s Ahafo Mine host communities in the Asutifi District of Brong-Ahafo Region, say they live in fear because the activities of illegal miners are threatening their very existence.

Houses and structures in the town have now become death traps for occupants, hanging on pits dug by illegal miners who prospect for raw gold in the community.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the community, it was revealed that a majority of the illegal miners were people who had travelled from the western part of the country to mine in the area.

Residents say this has been going on ever since the Ahafo Mine began actual mining in 2006.

Nana Owusu Anin, Mawrehene (sub-chief) at Gyedu, told the GNA that most of the pits the illegal miners operated in are also close to schools.

He said efforts made by the community leaders to stop the illegal miners had proved futile, adding that, since many of the operators use offensive weapons and are well armed, it has been very difficult to get rid of them.

Nana Anin said some mining activities even take place at the centre of the town, thereby affecting most of the high tension poles erected in the area.

He feared that some of the houses could cave-in during the rainy season as the pits had weakened the foundations of many houses.

Nana Anin appealed to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council to intervene before something bad befalls the community.