Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II
The Omanhene of Elmina, Nana Kojo Konduah VI, has denied media reports that he attacked the personality of the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II , when the latter called for an end to the ongoing illegal gold mining at the Benya Lagoon at Elmina.
Nana Konduah VI said he only protested the Okyehene’s attempt to implicate the traditional authorities in the act.
Shortly after some substance which has been confirmed by the Minerals Commission to be gold was discovered at the shores of Elmina, thousands of residents besieged the area to mine it.
The Okyehene during a public gathering condemned the act and criticised the traditional leaders for doing little to stop the residents.
Nana Aduakwa, spokesperson for the Omanhene of Elmina, told Citi News that a lot had been done by him and his elders to get the residents away from the area, describing the Okyehene’s comment as premature.
“The comments he made were a little unfortunate because he hardly sees what we are doing because he is grappling with some problems over there [Okyeman]. But you don’t go on air and castigate us saying that we are involved in what is ongoing. We haven’t been involved and we haven’t given anybody any permission,” the chief said.
He added: “It would have been very nice if he [Okyehene] had called him [Omanhene of Elmina] privately to say that this should be there and this shouldn’t be there.”
Source: Citifmonline