News
We want fair share of our gold – Chief demands
The Divisional Chief of Bosomtwi Traditional Area, Nana Kwabena Amponsah 1V,has lamented the state of roads in mining enclaves in the Western Region including his jurisdiction,saying” it’s a sad commentary on our development.”
He continued :”We want our share of the gold. We are in a gold enclave where gold has been mined for centuries but we don’t even see it.Huni Valley -Tarkwa road used to have manholes and it was terrible travelling on it .The state of roads in Western Region are just worrying.
“It’s sad.There is no interchange in Western Region. Not even at Takoradi.Gold mining in other countries like South Africa has become a reference point. But,when you come to this country, from Tarkwa,Aboso to Huni Valley, it’s a pathetic.Even to ask for our share, where do you go to ask questions?.”
Nana Amponsah made the lamentations when the Mining Sector Roads Rehabilitation Secretariat met him at the Bosomtwe Divisional Area palace to discuss their mandates and the rehabilitation of Huni Valley roads as part of the agenda to transform mining enclaves in Ghana.
He said, before the rehabilitation of the 33 km Tarkwa -Damang road- trekking to Tarkwa or Takorafi was a drudgery.
Today, he said, the journey to Tarkwa, which used to cover two hours, has been cut to about 30 minutes.
The Bosomtwe Chief told the delegation that due to poor road access in Huni Valley corridors, travelling to Accra through Praso, a short distance, was a difficulty, and so, commuters detoured through Tarkwa, Takoradi and Cape Coast.
Nana Amponsah pledged to support the secretariat in performing its mandate to transform roads in Bosomtewe (Huni Valley).
“We ” will help you to meet your mandate.If the communities become beautiful, we shall all share the glory.” he added.
He, however,suggested that the coverage of the Huni Valley project should be extended from 4km to 7.5 km,arguing that the mining community was growing each day.
The Gyaasehene of Bosomtwe, Nana Kwesi Assaah, also complained about shoddy works by some contractors over the years and appealed to the secretariat to ensure the execution of good quality road project in the area.
“We need roads with a longer lifes pan. Do your work with integrity, transparency,truth and the fear of God. Sacrifice and posterity will judge you. Let the truth prevail all the time.” he told the delegation.
The Coordinator at the Mining Roads Sector Rehabilitation Secretariat,Mr Frank Felix E. Awah, explained that the team would coordinate,supervise and implement the road projects in the mining communities.
He added that government would provide part of the funds for the project while the mining companies would also support, but stressed that “We are going to work together as stakeholders to ensure success of the projects.”
He again, said that the Technical Advisor,Dr. Francis Acheampong, also a board chairman of Ghana Highways Authority, would ensure good quality road projects.
Dr.Acheampong, on his part, said “Good quality work is important.We want to ensure that we do good roads with a longer lifespan. not those after six months, develop manholes and the road is destroyed.”
Legal Advisor, Alhaji Farouk Seidu,assured of a necessary legal framework to ensure that even if a new government assumed office, the projects in the mining enclaves would not stall.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Huni Valley
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
