The chiefs and people of Kwabeng in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region have protested against Xtra Gold, a mining company working in the area. The protesters said the activirties of the company were polluting water bodies in the area. Osabarima Darkwa Woe, Chief of Kwabeng and Gyaasehene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, briefing newsmen at Kwabeng, said since the company started its operations in the area about a year ago, residents had contracted many water borne diseases. He said there were three main water bodies that served Kwabeng and surrounding villages but the company diverted two of them to their mining site leaving one, Akomasu stream to serve the communities in the area. Osabarima Woe said the situation was worsened when the management diverted Akomasu stream from its original source to a different place thereby reducing its volume and quality to the community. He noted that appeals made by the chiefs and people to the management to provide the communities with potable water had fallen on deaf ears. According to him the situation becomes precarious during the harmattan when the Akomasu stream became polluted with chemicals and most of the people had to use purified water for drinking. He said available records at Kwabeng Health Centre indicated that, since the management started their operations, bilharzia cases had increased and last year 375 cases were recorded with six cases recorded in January this year. Addressing a meeting with the management in his palace, Osabarima Woe threatened to stop them from operating in the area until the company provided the community with potable water. He denied that the chiefs and elders had taken money from the management hence their inability to provide the community with potable water. Mr Michael Turkson, Mining Manager of the Company, denied that water bodies in the area had been polluted due to their operations. He pledged to ensure that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency came to assessed the situation. Source: GNA