Mr Thomas Osei-Bonsu, Asante-Akim North Municipal Chief Executive, has appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission to act decisively to ensure that mining companies complied with environmental safety regulations.
He described as unacceptable the situation where some of the companies are degrading the environment with impunity.
Additionally, he said, mining companies appeared to show little or no regard for social responsibility to the communities where they are doing business.
He was speaking at a public hearing on the proposed Konongo Gold Project's environmental impact assessment at Konongo.
The Owere Mines Company, a Ghanaian/Australian owned company, has been
given a gold mining concession at Konongo and is in the process of acquiring environmental permit from EPA.
Present at the hearing were officials from the Minerals Commission, Mines Department, Ministries of Science and Technology, Lands and Forestry, EPA, civil society organizations, chiefs and peoples from all the 17 affected communities.
Mr Osei-Bonsu said chiefs as custodians of the land should be guided by the general good of the people and the future generation when entering into agreement with mining companies.
He said it was important they drew lessons from their experiences with collapsed gold mining companies that operated in the area from 1907 to 1983.
Mr Roger Bannister, the Project Manager, said the company has sunk over 10 million dollars into exploration and care maintenance.
Farmers whose farms would be affected by the mining had already been paid a total of 3,000 dollars as compensation in addition to supporting
communities with projects.
He said the company was determined to help improve the local economy through skills training, provision of infrastructure, and the establishment of a community development fund.
The company's total concession covers 120 square kilometers.
Nana Agyeman Tiatoa, Paramount Chief of Juansa, urged the people to be more alert and to support the company to succeed.