THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF EXTRACTIVE ACTIVITIES IN AHANTA WEST MUNICIPALITY.
In addition to its richness in language, customs, belief systems and other elements of culture, the Ahanta West Municipality has always been heavily endowed with myriads of significant natural resources, making it a key area for extractive industries.
- Mineral extraction
A. GOLD extractive activities have their roots stretching into pre-colonial era, with early Europeans explorers, discovering rich alluvial and mining pits in the area in the 1640s. This eventually led to the occupancy and the establishment of the fort Batenstein at Butre in 1656 by the Dutch. In contemporary times, the extraction of gold is largely dominated by illegal mining activity /”Gather them and sell” (grammatically corrupted as GALAMSEY) leading to indiscriminate rate of haphazard exploration. And this is highly prevalent, particularly in areas like Adiewoso, Hotopo (along the Butre River), and the Cape Three Points forest reserves. On the other hand, there are established formal community mining sites which are under highly regulatory operational system at locations like Mbaampehia near Apemanim.
B. MANGANESE, the locality, Yakaw near Dixcove served as geological home to the exploitation and weathering of Manganese deposits by British and colonial powers in the early 1940s. The extraction activity peaked during 1940 to 1954, where various manganese companies were extracting for manganese particularly after the massive global push for the resource during the World War II. Today, there is only a weighing bridge strategically located at Apemanim to ensure accurate measurement of exact manganese and Bauxite being hauled from the mines to the Takoradi Port.
C. CLAY, Beahu , located within the southeastern part of the municipality holds significant deposits of clay which were mostly extracted and utilised in the ceramics and brick production.
2. Coastal Sand extraction
The Sand winning activities are long-standing practices undertaken by the youths of Funkoe, Adjuah and Pumpunie driven by the construction industry. Currently, the gravity of this practice is drastically toned down due to several advocacies against the activity.
3. Oil and Gas extraction
CENTRE FOR NATIONAL CULTURE
AHANTA WEST MUNICIPAL