Chiefs, residents deny galamsey allegation, cautions fabricators against chief's defamation

Residents and chiefs of Mpatuam in the Amansie West district of the Ashanti Region have cautioned people who only create lies to tarnish the images of chiefs and residents of the town to desist.

The angry residents and their chiefs called such liars, being journalists or ordinary citizens, to as a matter of urgency stop the made-up stories or face the wrath of the people.

According to them, these fabricators have gone an extra mile to the extent of calling radio stations to lie that a site in the middle of the town that has been demarcated for a project is being used by the chief for galamsey.

"We heard someone who's even not in this town, called on a radio station to painfully lie that our 80-year-old noble chief is digging a pit for galamsey. How can you create this big lie without evidence?

We get pissed and disappointed whenever we hear people tarnishing our image," One resident said.

"This place you see in the middle of the town was a waterlogged covered with bushes. Pythons and other wild animals posing danger to us here.

The chief and his elders advised us to clear the area so that a new planned project can be put up here to help the town. Some people strangely defamed the entire town including our chiefs, that we are doing galamsey. My brother, you're a journalist, kindly confess if this place is meant for galamsey," one other resident said in disappointment.

They are, therefore, warning those fabricating such stories to quit for the better.

Assemblymember for the Mpatuam West electoral area, Honourable Frederick Nkansah aka Yentumi speaking on the issue expressed worry over how some people create issues that tarnish the image of the town.

He revealed that the place which was set to be used for the construction of a community centre was been cleared by a bulldozer of which he thinks those enemies of progress took to create unnecessary tension.

"Even though our area is a mining community, no one is doing a galamsey here ever since the government and also Otumfuor warned people not to do it again. Such fabricators are giving us a serious war attempt. We warn them to stop or face our red side when they're caught," he said.

The Chief of the town, Nana Asamoah Tia II told Soireenews that "the area has even now become a football pitch after it was cleared."

"Children are playing football on it to make sure the land becomes dry before he starts the project. How does an old man like me operate galamsey on a football pitch?" he quizzed.

The Chief advised those enemies of progress to desist from such acts since it's very unfortunate.

Nana Peprah, Ashanti Region