Tension is mounting in some communities in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region over the destruction of cocoa and other farms by a Chinese woman engaged in alleged illegal mining.

Local people, led by their chiefs, suspect individuals they describe as faceless government officials are behind Asia Huang’s activities which are under police and military protection.

Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor was on a fact-finding mission to assess the environmental and crop damage in the affected communities.

Polluted water bodies, large uncovered pits, and deep gullies which have become deathtraps at Gyaman Yawkarikrom and Bepotenten were evident.

Good drinking water is scarce as water bodies have turned muddy as a result of the mining activities. Residents say six children have drowned in the waterlogged trenches within the last few months. 

The Chinese woman, Asia Huang aka Asia is described as untouchable and operates with impunity, residents said.

Locals, mostly farmers say they are going to demonstrate because the Chinese  has taken over their cocoa farms and refused to pay the appropriate compensation. 

"We want to drive her away with the demonstration, she has taken over our cocoa farms," one resident said. 

"If you challenge her, she will go in for the police to come and arrest you and pack your things away. She has also done same to her own Chinese people and children have died in the open trenches of Aisha," another resident told Joy News.

 

One woman said the family resorted to court in order to get a meagre amount as compensation for her mother's farm. 

The Odikro of Bepotenten, Egya George Anane, where Asia is currently working is equally unhappy. 

"She is destroying the land and running over our source of drinking water with her huge equipment," he said.

Mining exploration company Volta Resources Limited says Aisha has encroached 35 acres of their land and extracted GH¢1.5 million worth of gold.  

Legal consultant, Edward Koranteng says about GH¢600,000 is needed to reclaim the destroyed land.

"There is a vast devastation to the land which she has no interest whatsoever in reclaiming. She is destroying Ghanaian lands, stealing from Ghanaians and she is being assisted by other Ghanaians, that doesn't hurt?" he quizzed.

"Volta Resources Limited is a concession and this woman goes on this land everyday escorted by people dressed in police or soldier attire. can you imagine how that feels?" angry Mr Koranteng questioned.

Recent operation by national security and police at illegal mining at Tontokrom also in the Amansie Central District saw the seizure of 10 excavators.

Luv News has cited a letter written by the Regional Coordinating director, Kofi Dwomoh Asubonteng ordering the release of the equipment to Asia Huang on the orders of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC). 

Deputy Regional Minister, Andy Osei Okra justifies REGSEC's decision explaining that the Regional Liason officer conducted the exercise on the blind side of the Council. 

"REGSEC can state emphatically that it was not aware of any exercise undertaken by the national security whether in the region or in Accra...I don't think that we have to support an illegality...once it was not sanctioned by us, I will not accept it," he said.