In the town of Bangroma in Grand Cape Mount County, tensions have escalated within the Community Land Management and Development Committee following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bea Mining Company (BMC).
The MOU, encompassing the relocation of the community due to a significant gold deposit discovery, has sparked discord among the committee’s leadership. The MOU, ratified by the Bangroma Community Chairman after extensive negotiations with Bea Mining Company, outlines plans for the relocation of residents, housing construction, and addressing a $60,000 debt owed to the community.
However, not all members of the community agree with the deal. Co-Chairman Sheik Abdulai Massarey from the Community Land Management and Development Committee has openly rejected the MOU, alleging coercion by District #3 Representative Gbessay Feika.
Massarey asserts that the agreement was prematurely signed without concluding discussions, claiming that illiteracy was exploited to manipulate the elders into accepting the terms without securing the community’s full benefits.
“There has been no conclusion on the discussion between the community and the company before the signing of the MOU,” Massarey claimed, asserting further that Representative Feika exploited the elders’ illiteracy to force the agreement without securing the owed benefits for the community.
In response, Representative Feika denied the coercion accusations, emphasizing her role as a witness during the negotiations to ensure mutual benefits for both parties. She explained that delays caused by prolonged discussions had impacted her prior commitments to travel overseas.
“I was a mere witness to the discussions and signed as a witness to ensure mutual benefits for both the company and the town’s residents.” She added that the prolonged discussions had delayed her trips to the United States multiple times, adhering to the elders’ requests.
Supporting Representative Feika’s stance, Mr. Seidu Swaray, who claims to be the Bangoma Community Secretary, defended the MOU, stating that it was approved based on residents’ demands.
Swaray dismissed the allegations against Feika as misrepresentative and highlighted the communal benefits included in the agreement, such as housing, schools, clinics, and employment opportunities.
“The claims are a misrepresentation of the facts,” he said.
Swaray showcased a recorded video of a mass meeting where residents mandated their approval of the MOU to Representative Feika. He detailed that the MOU included several community benefits, such as constructing housing units, schools, and clinics, and providing employment for the residents.
The division within the leadership contrasts with the undisclosed value of the gold deposit in Bangoma. Sources suggest that the Environmental Protection Agency awaits the signing of the MOU to conduct an environmental assessment before mining operations commence.
