Give Obuasi to Ibrahim Mahama – Kweku Manu Says Residents Have Not Benefited From Gold Wealth

Ghanaian actor Kweku Manu has renewed his call for businessman Ibrahim Mahama to take charge of mining operations in Obuasi, arguing that residents of the mining town have failed to enjoy meaningful benefits from the area’s mineral wealth despite decades of mining activities by foreign companies.

The actor explained that he had previously suggested that Obuasi should be handed over to Ibrahim Mahama but was misunderstood by people who did not fully understand the point he was making.

According to Kweku Manu, the town has considerable mineral resources, yet the living conditions and development experienced by residents do not reflect the wealth generated from years of mining activities.

He questioned why a community blessed with valuable mineral deposits should continue to struggle to enjoy the infrastructure and economic benefits expected from its natural resources, particularly after several years of mining operations by foreign companies.

“That’s why I was saying let’s give Obuasi to Ibrahim Mahama, but people didn’t understand me,” he stated.

Kweku Manu further argued that Ibrahim Mahama had demonstrated a different approach to mining through the infrastructure he allegedly provides in communities where his company operates, mentioning airports, schools and hospitals as examples of developments he believes have benefited residents in those areas.

He praised the businessman for what he described as his contribution to communities hosting his company’s operations, expressing the belief that similar investment could bring significant improvements to Obuasi if he were given the opportunity to manage its mining activities.

“Look at the communities where Ibrahim Mahama does his mining, he has provided a lot of infrastructure for them, from airports to schools to hospitals, God will continue to bless him wherever he is,” the actor said.

He also questioned the absence of adequate development in Obuasi despite the town’s long history of gold mining, insisting that the people who live in the area should experience greater benefits from the resources extracted from their land.

Kweku Manu maintained that the businessman had achieved in a relatively short period what foreign mining companies had allegedly failed to accomplish over several decades, using the comparison to strengthen his argument for a change in the management of Obuasi’s mining resources.

“What the foreigners have not been able to do in 30 years, he has done in a few years, so if he takes charge of mining at Obuasi, it will be beneficial for the town,” he added.

His proposal centres on the need for mining activities to produce visible improvements in the communities where mineral resources are extracted, particularly through investments in essential infrastructure, education, healthcare and other facilities that can improve the lives of residents.

The actor’s comments have placed the issue of community benefits from mining activities at the centre of discussions about Obuasi’s development and the responsibility of mining companies towards communities that host their operations.

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