The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council has performed customary rites to sever ties with Adamus Resources Limited, a gold prospecting company operating in the Ellembelle District.
This followed the revocation of three mining leases of the company by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, after the Minerals Commission found it had breached the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
Addressing a news conference at Atuabo on Wednesday, April 29, Awulae Blay IX, the Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area and President of the Council, announced the Council’s resolution to cut ties with the company.
Shortly after the conference, the Chiefs and Queen Mothers, clad in black cloth and red bands, poured libation and slaughtered a ram to invoke the gods and ancestors of the area against the mining company.
The Council said Adamus Resources Limited had been “a curse more than a blessing to the people of Ellembelle,” therefore the rites signified cutting ties and parting with the company.
“We are not opposed to mining. We are not opposed to development. We are opposed to destruction,” Awulae Blay IX stated.
The Council expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, for revoking the company’s leases covering the Akango, Salman and Nkroful concessions.
It, however, resolved that “we don’t want Adamus Resources Limited Company on our land again” and appealed to the President and the Minister to secure a new company to take over the concessions.
Awulae Blay IX said the Traditional Council was resolved and would not accept Adamus back on their soil.
