In response to rumors that the Ramsar site in Winneba may be sold to certain investors for mining, some citizens of Effutu, in the Central region, have taken to the streets to express their displeasure.
The concerned residents claim that the investor receives the same location they use for their yearly Aboakyire festival deer hunt.
They also mentioned that the Aboakyire festival would probably be suspended if the land was sold.
The demonstration occurred months after Parliament was informed of the large-scale lithium discovery in Effutu and other areas of the Central Region.
The residents threatened to stop the mining company’s operations, claiming that the exploration would destroy the reserve, which has existed for several years.
“We heard that the land that we use to celebrate our festival is being sold, but that land is where we used for our festival and that is where our fetish priest is as well,” stated one of the demonstrators
“We have heard that they have discovered some gold and diamonds on that land,” he continued. We, the youth of Winneba, have decided that we will not allow them to touch that land because doing so would mean that they will destroy our properties.
“Chemicals to be used for the mining will affect the sea and destroy our fish,” stated another protestor.
