Adom FM on Friday averted a potential bloodshed in Apampatua in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region following disagreements between inhabitants and officials and workers of Extra Gold Limited. The inhabitants accuse the mining company of polluting their water bodies and had threatened to deal ruthlessly with Extra Gold Limited for taking their lands without regard to due process as well as using 'foreign dogs' to pollute their water bodies. One of the agitators, Kwabena Boateng, who spoke to Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah said the people were tired of the many failed attempts to get the attention of their leaders including the Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive to stop the activities of the mining company. He said the firm's activities have resulted in the pollution of their water bodies, leaving them with no source of drinking water. Kwabena Boateng said they were doomed forever since their only source of drinking water is polluted by Extra Gold Limited. He told Adakabre Frimpong Manso, host of Dwaso Nsem that these petitions have not yielded any results, hence their decision to hit the streets and protest against the activities of the mining company, choosing to forgo farming for the day. MP for Atiwa, Kwasi Amoako Atta who apparently was unaware of the fracas, supported the protest and expressed worry over activities of Extra Gold, which he said have led to the pollution of water bodies in the area. ‘Even if you have the required documents to back your operations you need to seek clearance from the town leaders, the mere fact that you have the license does not give you the permission to jump into people’s land and start mining,’ Kwasi Amoako Atta stressed. He accused Extra Gold Limited of being part of recent floods at Atiwa that claimed five lives. The MP however called on his constituents to exercise restraint, assuring that he and the DCE will resolve the issue with officials of Extra Gold Limited. The DCE for Atiwa, Atta Twum who only heard of the news on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, said the District Security Committee (DISEC) would hold an emergency meeting to ensure that the company adhered to strict regulations of the mining law. In a related development, the Director of Wassa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) Daniel Owusu Koranteng, has expressed worry over activities of the mining companies. Mr. Owusu Koranteng noted that the mining laws require that prompt and adequate compensation should be paid to land owners whose lands are given out as concessions, as well as compensation for crops like cocoa. He noted that compensation principles should be the priority of the people of Apampatua, adding, there are agitations in almost all mining communities because the right compensation is not paid to farmers while mining companies continuously pollute water bodies. He cited Obuasi and Tarkwa where about 260 water bodies are said to be polluted by mining companies. The Director for WACAM argued that a little over 12,000 people have been employed by mining companies, while cocoa has employed more people with scholarship schemes established by COCOBOD. However, an official of Extra Gold limited, Prince Nartey said a meeting will be held to resolve the issue.