The chiefs and people of Salman in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, are threatening to demonstrate on Christmas day to back their demand for unpaid mine royalties from the government.

The community is asking Government to pay its share of the royalties due them since the last payment in May 2012.

Checks by JoyNews’ Kwaku Owusu Peprah at the stool lands department indicate that the mining company in the area, Adamus Resources has paid the royalties to government but the state has not been able to pay the 3 percent royalties, which is meant for the stool and mining communities.

Salmon is a small mining community in the Ellembelle district of the Western Region and Adamus Resources has been mining in the area for about five years now.

Over the years, as the mining laws say, royalties are supposed to be paid to the community and the chiefs of the area, but the chiefs say that for the past 18 months not a pesewa has been paid to them in a form of royalties.

The Chief of Salman told JoyNews, he is worried over government’s failure to pay the money to them since the situation will only encourage some chiefs to allow illegal small scale miners back to the area.

According to the Chief of Salman, Nana Kwamena Bentum II, there had been several consultations with the Omanhene of the area, the stool lands department and the District Chief Executive (DCE) and there had been repeated promises but the money never got paid.