Accra (Greater Accra) 21 Dec. '98

The Movement for the Conservation of Mining Environment(MOFCOME), an NGO, said on Monday that there could be violent demonstrationsby inhabitants of mining areas to regain control of their lands if the degradation caused by mining companies does not end. A release signed by the Executive President of MOFCOME, Mr. Yaw Boateng in Accra said it is sad that at a time when the whole world is campaigning against environmentaldegradation, "we are sitting down unconcerned to allow expatriates to deform our lands with impunity". It said after a peaceful demonstration by Wassa Fiase Chiefs against environmentaldegradation by miners, the movement thought that "these destroyers of the environment would become responsive to the plight of the inhabitants of miningareas". However, evidence so far proves that mining companies are not prepared to obeythe laws on the environment. "Land deformation has been accelerated with the introduction of large-scale surface-miningin the country which has led to the demolition of villages, resettlementof communities in negative environment and destruction of forest reserves,to allow mining activities to go on". MOFCOME urged the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) to fulfil it's "historicmission" of protecting the environment by halting surface-mining to helpprevent any violent demonstrations by the inhabitants of these areas.