Aboso (W/R) May 13, GNA-The Wassa Fiase Traditional Council has expressed concern about the rate at which surface mining is virtually taking over all their lands.

Some member of the Council therefore suggested that the on-going surface mining should be allowed to carry on but no new ones should be allowed to operate because if all the lands be allowed for surface mining, future generations would hold the Council accountable for mismanaging their natural heritage. These were some of the sentiments expressed by some chiefs of the Council to the Press.

Osagyefo Enimil Kumah VI, Paramout chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area and President of the Traditional Council said, over hundred years of mining in the area had created an appalling situation compared to mining towns like Johnnnesburg.

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 unconcernrd all our lands would be used for surface mining and posterity would blame us".

He therefore suggested that the Council should officially petition government about their concern on the issue.

Nana Kwadu Kyirifo, chief of Sekyere Hinman, said he did not regard surface mining as good for the industry in the country and suggested that currently the mining companies engaged in surface mining should be allowed but no new company should be allowed to operate. Deep mining, he said, would help save their lands. 13 May 07