A group of unemployed graduates in Tarkwa has made a passionate appeal to former President John Dramani Mahama and businessman Ibrahim Mahama to intervene in an ongoing dispute involving AngloGold Ashanti and local residents over access to small-scale mining sites in the area.
According to the group, they were recently removed from small-scale mining sites that had previously served as a major source of livelihood for many young people and residents within the community. They say the move has left several individuals unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.
The graduates argue that while natural resources continue to be extracted from their land, local residents are not benefiting enough from the wealth generated. They are therefore calling on national leaders and influential stakeholders to step in and ensure that members of the community receive fair opportunities and economic benefits from the resources found in their area.
As part of their proposal, the group has suggested that the mining site be handed over to a wholly Ghanaian-owned company or entity. They believe such a move would guarantee greater local participation, create jobs, and ensure that the economic gains from mining activities directly benefit the people of Tarkwa.
The appeal highlights growing concerns among residents in mining communities about local ownership, employment opportunities, and equitable distribution of Ghana’s natural resource wealth.
