Six armed youth from Asuom in the Kwaebibirim Municipality of the Eastern Region, who invaded the AC Zenon Limited mining site to attack workers, media personnel, and officers of the Minerals Commission, have been disarmed by security personnel stationed at the site.
The six men, led by a man portraying himself as the incoming Asafo leader and wielding machetes, arrived at the site on tricycles and motorbikes.
They intended to disrupt a press engagement after being informed of the media’s presence by an informant.
However, the company’s security, who had laid an ambush, immediately disarmed them upon arrival.
The Chief Executive of AC Zenon Limited, Hajia Amina Tahiru, urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used for individuals’ selfish interests.
She also appealed to the government to protect licensed, responsible miners and help them combat illegal miners and encroachers.
Hajia Tahiru refuted allegations that the company was engaging in illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
She took journalists to the site, where officers from the Minerals Commission in Koforidua confirmed the legitimacy of the mining lease issued to the company in 2022.
They refuted the allegations, indicating that the Asuom Kontihene was only bitter because the company refused to succumb to his personal demands against a collective community agreement.