The Chiefs and people of Akyem Kotoku in the Eastern Region are up in arms against the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), over a letter the NGO wrote to the UN, accusing Newmont Ghana Gold Company Limited of grossly degrading the environment. According to WACAM, Newmont, a mining firm operating at Akyem Kotoku and its environs, is polluting water bodies and deforesting the area. This allegation against Newmont has attracted the attention of the chiefs, who describe all what WACAM is saying as untruth. The Chief of Abirem, a community in the Akyem Kotoku traditional area, Nana Akwasi Amo Kyekyewere II has described as not only untrue but misleading. The Abirem Chief however says NEWMONT Ghana Gold Limited is one of a few development oriented mining organizations the country one can boast of. Speaking to Asempa News, the Chief also emphasized that the letter to the United Nations had the potential to unnecessarily scare investors to the area. But the Executive Director of the WACAM, Daniel Owusu Koranteng disagrees. He says, the forest reserve is the property of the nation and its management cannot be left in the hands of traditional authorities. Mr. Owusu Koranteng believes the interest of future generations need to be catered for and called for steps to halt the fast depletion of the forest reserves. Credit: Asempa F