FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Pateh Baldeh
6 November 2009
Villagers in Kartong in the Kombo South of the Western Region have expressed concern that the local community is not benefiting from the sand mining in their area. According to information gathered by this reporter the mining of sand started three months ago in the area where the locals are farming and doing other horticultural activities. According to the sources, since the commencement of mining in the area, the farmers cannot cultivate their farms.
However, when this reporter visited the Kartong and spoke to the village Alkalo, Alh. Demba Jabang he denied that there was farming activity taken place in the area. However he explained that the place where the mining is taking place is not far from some of the rice fields and horticultural gardens. Alkalo Jabang explained that although his people are not against the mining the villagers say they should benefit from it.
He said there has been an agreement between the department of geology and the company that is responsible for the mining for compensation to be paid to the villagers but to date they have not benefited anything from the activity. He also expressed concern that there is no formula in the agreement as to how they would benefit from the mining. He told this reporter that his people are more concerned with the compensation, whether in cash or kind.
For his part Omar S.B Jabang who is the Village Development Chairman (VDC) who also doubles as mining inspector from the department of geology, office of the president categorically denied the allegation that there was any farming activity taking place in the area. He also mentioned that there was never any football field in the area as claimed. However he indicated that the place is under the (TDA) or Tourist Development Area and the company conducting the mining is under the office of the president called SOLIFO INVESTMENT COMPANY. He told this reporter in an interview that an agreement was reached which spelt out that the villagers would benefit from the mining through a project proposal to be made by the villagers which will be sponsored by the company. However he indicated that no project has yet been identified by the villagers and benefits have not yet reached the people. He attributed the delay benefiting to the poor condition of the feeder roads linking the mining areas during the rainy season.
Mr. Jabang said they are applying new methods in protecting the environment. As such they only go two metres deep just as they were trained in Ghana. He told this reporter that even after completing their mission in the area people can still build houses in the place and also do farming and other activities in the area. He asserted that the new method is completely different from the usual way of mining in this country.
He said in the first areas where mining has taken place, individuals were compensated but this time they would like the whole village to benefit from it as the area belongs to all of them. Others who talked to this reporter also called for compensation from the company responsible for the mining of sand in Kartong.
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