Residents of Salman in the Nzema East Municipal Assembly of the Western Region, on Tuesday expressed concern about the operations of Adamus Resources Limited, which they said posed a health hazard to them.
Speaking at a press conference at Salman, Nana Kwamena Bentum II, Chief of the area said the surface mining activities of Adamus Resources Limited had created environmental pollution due to the dust emitting from the operations.
He said the noise pollution from the mining company was also a source of concern.
Nana Bentum alleged that, on Monday, January 31, this year, the Queen Mother of the town, Nana Eba Bolofole and some opinion leaders were assaulted when they visited the premises of the company to express their concern.
He claimed that Management of the company ordered the police to beat one Godfred Obeng and France Kwasi, residents of the town.
Mr Isaac Kwasi Mensah, Assembly Member for Salman corroborated what the chief said and added that, the company pledged to resettle the residents at a safe and convenient place to avoid pollution before mining operations begun in the area.
He said the resettlement programme was not making quick progress thus exposing the people to dust pollution.
Mr Mensah said the operations of the company had made it impossible for the people to farm thereby creating economic hardship among the people.
He therefore appealed to the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders in the extractive industry to intervene swiftly to avert any breach of the law.
Meanwhile, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, Mr Kofi Adusei has refuted all the allegations levelled against the company.
He said farmers whose lands were affected by the mining activities had been compensated.
Mr Adusei said the company gave GH¢10,000 to the Azawua Royal Family of Salman for pacification rituals before mining started in the area.
He said the corporate entity had lived up to its social responsibility including the enrolment of 39 youth from the town in Kikam Technical Institute to acquire employable skills.
Mr Adusei said the company collaborated with the EPA to organise a public sensitisation programme about its operations before mining started in late December.