Ashanti Region: Ntonso residents protest unregulated blasting by Chinese company quarry

Residents of Ntonso, a town in the Kwabre East District, have protested on Monday, July 21, against the incessant and unregulated blasting operations at a Chinese quarry site.

The protesters, who are also victims of the blasting activity, gathered at about 11:00 a.m., blocked all access routes to the site to express their grievances regarding the blasting operations.

They said the blasting activities have affected and damaged some of the houses in the area.

The protesters said that despite several meetings and assurances, the company has refused to stop its activities or reduce the capacity of the explosive device being used to carry out their blasting because there’s no Chief to resolve the issue; hence, they decided to demonstrate.

One of the victims expressing her grievances to OTEC News, Bismark Appiah Kubi Papilo, said the blasting operations have lingered for many years, disrupting the residents’ well-being and destroying their properties.

She revealed that the Chinese company intentionally used explosive to blast the path leading to their farmland. Hence, the blast has created a deep hole preventing them from crossing to their land

Due to lack of chief in the area, they also protested that the Chinese company illegally has taken over portions of their lands

They insist that the big hole created as a result of severe explosion must be filled to allow them to cross to their Lands

District Chief Executive of the area made appearance at the scene to ease the tensions of the demonstrators and victims, indicating his resilience to see the issue resolved

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Bismark Appiah