Public Agenda NewsPaper Ghana's only Advocacy & Development Newspaper
The Livelihood and Environment Ghana(LEG), an environmental and human rights advocacy organisation has called for a rapid investigation into the recent incident of police brutalities at the Newmont Ahafo South Gold mine at Ntotroso in the Ahafo Region.
The latest incident, which occurred last Thursday dawn, resulted in the deaths of three local residents who were allegedly shot by police while attempting to collect gold waste from the mine’s waste heap.
According to eyewitnesses, the victims were chased by police from the waste heap and shot in a nearby bush, far from the Newmont site. This contradicts claims by the police that the victims were armed thieves attempting to steal valuable equipment and Gold.
Condemning the incident which has left local residents leaving in fear, the Executive Director of LEG, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, stated that the company’s security personnel have a history of using excessive force against local residents.
According to Mr Adjei- Poku “This is not an isolated incident,” adding that” they have recorded numerous cases of police brutality at the Newmont mine site including 2023 and 2007 where the chief of Ntotroso late Nana Amakye was a victim”
Mr Adjei-Poku’s claims have exposed a culture of impunity among Newmont’s security personnel, who appear to be operating above the law. “The police and security personnel at the mine site believe they are above the law,” he said. “They have no regard for human life.”
He claimed that many local chiefs and opinion leaders have been compromised by the company, receiving contracts and other benefits from them and that such inducements have silenced them from speaking out against the brutality.
“They are more interested in protecting their contracts than in protecting the lives of their people,” he said.
To this effect, Mr Adjei-Poku is calling for an immediate investigation into the incidents of police brutality. “We want justice for the victims and their families. We want the perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions.”
He also urged the international community to intervene, calling on human rights organizations and foreign governments to put pressure on the Ghanaian government to take the necessary action to deal with the matter.
He added, “We need the international community to help us bring an end to this culture of impunity.” Mr. Adjei-Poku disclosed in an interview with Public Agenda.
LEG is a research and advocacy not-for-profit and non-governmental organization
established in 2004 to promote Community rights, environmental justice, sustainable livelihood for marginalized persons and promotes active citizenship in governance.
LEG also engages with duty bearers on issues around minerals governance and submits policy proposals to policy makers.
By: Publicagenda.news
