Aboso (W/R), May 14, GNA - The Wassa Fiase Traditional Council has expressed dissatisfaction about the rate at which surface mining is virtually taking over all their lands and said action had to be taken to curb surface mining.

Members of the council have said on-going surface mining should be allowed to go on but no new ones should be permitted.

Speaking to journalists Osagyefo Enimil Kumah VI, the Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, said over hundred years of mining in the area had brought no development as compared to Johannesburg. He said even with the introduction of Alternative Livelihood Programmes (ALP) recently, people are still living in abject poverty meanwhile their lands have been taken over for surface mining. Nana Kwasi Akrosa spoke vehemently against surface mining, saying, "If we sit down unconcerned, all our lands would be used for surface mining and posterity would blame us".

Nana Kwadu Kyirifo, chief of Sekyere Hinman, said he did not believe surface mining would help Ghana and that mining companies engaged in it should be allowed but no new company should be allowed. ''Deep mining will save our lands." 14 May 07