A youth group in Kyebi in the Eastern Region has condemned requests for an apology from President John Mahama for saying Kyebi is headquarters of illegal mining or galamsey.

The group, Kyebi Youth For Development (KYD), says those demanding the apology should instead focus their attention on the issues at stake regarding illegal mining in Kyebi and stop putting a political spin on the President's comments.

President Mahama at a durbar to commission a five-town water project to serve over twenty five thousand residents of Kyebi,Apedwa,Osenase,Anyinam and Kwabeng described Kyebi as the headquarters of illegal mining.

The President's said this after he flew over the area to see the devastating effects of illegal mining in the area.

Since the reference of Kyebi as galamsey headquarters by the President, many people have expressed discontent.

 The Okyeman Youth Association (OYA), another youth group in the area, has issued a statement describing the President’s comments as ‘provocative’.

According to the statement signed by OYA General Secretary, Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta: "The statement by the President was ill-motivated. It is an attempt to abdicate genuine responsibility on the issue of illegal mining in the country".

But the Kyebi Youth For Development (KYD) at a press conference in Kyebi says OYA's comments show that the youth group has deliberately refused to "acknowledged the efforts of the ruling National Democratic (NDC) led by his Excellency John Dramani Mahama at bringing massive developmental projects to the people of Akyem-Abuakwa because of their lineage to the New Patriotic Party (NPP)."

President of KYD, Samuel Nana Asare at a press conference has however lauded the President for contributing largely to the development of Okyeman.

 ‘’We should put on record that, the major visible infrastructure projects we have in Kyebi such as the municipal assembly block, the construction of Kyebi township roads, expansion of Kyebi electrification projects, provision of ambulance service station, the construction of ultra-modern education service office complex to administer quality education, provision of dormitory blocks, science laboratory, six-unit classroom block for the Abuakwa state college are but a few of the many projects we have seen’’, he said.

He called on the youth of Akyem-Abuakwa to rally behind any government that brings development to them.

He noted that posterity will Judge them if they refused to heed to the clarion call from the President.

‘’Our children and grand children will hold us responsible if we fail to listen to good advice just like the president has told us. Let’s do away with politics in what we do and focus on what is right. We think the president has hit the nail right on the head and we must stand to act now", he stated.