GWIRALAND, WESTERN REGION. Some youth from Gwiraland are calling for a broader engagement of the Gwira Traditional Council in decisions concerning the social and economic interests of communities within the traditional area.
The call follows renewed public discussion over the activities of investors operating on lands within Gwiraland, particularly amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Betterland Ghana Limited’s mineral exploration activities at Gwira Banso in the Nzema East Municipality.
The youth say there is a need for greater clarity and wider participation by the traditional leadership in matters involving investors, community benefits, social responsibilities and development agreements affecting the people.
They are particularly questioning whether the broader structures of the Gwira Traditional Council are being sufficiently involved in decisions and engagements concerning the social responsibilities of companies operating on Gwira lands.
According to the youth, they are concerned that the Gwira Traditional Council is sometimes perceived as being represented by only a limited number of chiefs during important engagements, a situation they say has created concerns among sections of the younger generation.
They are therefore proposing that a formal meeting of the Gwira Traditional Council be convened to clarify its composition, representation and decision-making processes, particularly on matters involving investors and community development.
The call does not necessarily question the existence of the traditional council. Available public records confirm the existence of the Gwira Traditional Council, with Awulae Angama-Tu Agyan II identified as the Paramount Chief and President of the Council. The council has also publicly undertaken activities and issued statements in its official capacity.
Official records further indicate that Gwira is recognised as one of the traditional areas represented in the Western Regional House of Chiefs.
The latest concerns have emerged against the background of a meeting held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, involving the Western Regional Security Council, representatives of Betterland Ghana Limited, traditional authorities and community voices. The meeting focused on disagreements surrounding the company's mineral exploration activities at Gwira Banso and its proposed transition to large-scale mining.
The engagement also brought to the fore differing views within the community regarding the potential impact of mining on the Draw River Forest and local livelihoods, as well as the potential for employment and development associated with large-scale mining.
Against this background, the concerned youth are calling for an inclusive traditional leadership engagement in which chiefs, elders, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders can openly discuss the interests of Gwiraland.
They argue that decisions involving investors should take into consideration not only traditional authority but also the expectations and long-term interests of the communities whose lands and natural resources are involved.
The youth further believe that a clearly defined and broadly participatory traditional council structure could help improve communication between traditional authorities, investors and residents, while reducing disagreements over community benefits and social responsibilities.
Their proposed engagement, they say, should provide an opportunity to establish who constitutes the Gwira Traditional Council, which chiefs and traditional authorities are entitled to participate in deliberations, and how decisions affecting the people of Gwiraland are reached.
The call comes at a time when the need for dialogue among traditional authorities, investors, government institutions and local communities has become increasingly important.
For the youth, the objective is not simply to challenge traditional authority but to ensure that the interests of the people of Gwiraland remain central whenever major decisions are taken concerning the area's land, natural resources, investments and development.
They are therefore urging the relevant traditional authorities and stakeholders to consider convening a broader meeting to address the concerns and establish a common framework for future engagements.
The youth say such a process could help strengthen transparency, accountability and unity within Gwiraland while ensuring that investment and development activities translate into meaningful benefits for local communities.
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