Manso Tontokrom youth resist military entry amid mining dispute [Video]

Hundreds of youth in Manso Tontokrom, a community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, staged a protest that lasted through the night after blocking military personnel from accessing their mining site.

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The demonstrators mounted roadblocks at the town’s outskirts, burning tyres to register their anger and frustration. About 50 military officers who arrived at the scene were prevented from entering the community.

The youth insist that they have mined on their land for decades and are unwilling to surrender it to foreign interests. Richmond Osei, leader of the youth group, told Adom News that their activities constitute community mining—not illegal mining as alleged. He accused Asanko Mines of using military force to intimidate residents and forcefully take over their land.

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“This large-scale mining company has operated in Manso for years, yet we’ve seen no development. Our youths remain unemployed, and the community is left dusty. We won’t allow them to take our land,” Osei lamented as cited by JoyNews.

He recalled a violent incident last year that claimed the lives of one community member and two soldiers, stressing that this time, the youth were protesting peacefully.

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The protesters also performed traditional rites, invoking the gods with schnapps, eggs, and fowls to place a curse on those allegedly behind the military invasion.

After several minutes of tension, the military personnel withdrew without engaging in violence. Calm has since been restored in Tontokrom, with residents returning to their daily activities.

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