Audio Attachment: Listen Simon Osei-Mensah on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' |
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah has asked Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, to produce documents indicating that he approved the mining of bauxite in the Tano-Offin Forest Reserve.
He said until he sees those documents, he is not going to release the seized equipment.
The police through the Atwima Mponua District Chief Executive (DCE) impounded equipment belonging to Engineers and Planners who have been engaged by Exton Cubic Group Limited.
According to the Ashanti Regional Minister the equipment were seized because of improper documentation.
Mr. Amewu’s Ministry, through the Forestry Commission, recently issued a license to Exton Cubic Group Limited, to mine bauxite in the Ashanti Region.
However Mr Simon Osei-Mensah does not understand why the Minister will give such authorization when there is an embargo on illegal mining activities.
He said in an interview on Peace FM's morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Tuesday that President Akufo- Addo’s aim of fighting illegal mining in the country will come to nought if ‘we allow people to start mining’.
“Until we get the document we are not releasing them (equipment) . . . I am not taking anything verbal. I need all the documents; item by item and then we will review it. When everything is okay, we will release them. Until the ban (on small scale mining) is over, if we allow people to start mining, the efforts of the President in fighting illegal mining will come to nought. Why the rush, why can’t we wait for the ban to be over. The Minister should bring the documents or any agreement he had with the company . . .,” he stated.
The Lands Ministry through the Forestry Commission issued a license to Exton Cubic Group Limited to mine bauxite in the region on June 20, 2017. The mining company in turn engaged Engineers and Planners (E&P), a company owned by Mr Mahama, to use its equipment to undertake a prospective service.
But hours after E&P moved its men and logistics to site, the police through the Atwima Mponua District Chief Executive (DCE) impounded its equipment, citing improper documentation.
In a statement released by Exton Cubic Group Limited and signed by its Managing Director, Augustus Amegashie, a portion read, "We are yet to receive any official communication from the authorities concerned as to why our sub-contractor's trucks and equipment have been impounded."
"In the meantime, our Lawyers are engaged in talks with the police in the area over the issue and it is our hope that the police will release the impounded trucks as soon as possible to forestall any further pecuniary losses to us."
"In conclusion, we would like to emphasize our commitment to the observance of the laws of the mining sector of Ghana. As a company, we are mindful of the regulations that govern the mining sector of Ghana. We have at all times endeavored to abide by these rules and regulations and we shall continue to do so in our operations."
Legal action
Exton Cubic Group Limited has threatened to take legal action against the Ashanti Regional Minister if he does not release the equipment belonging to Engineers and Planners owned by Ibrahim Mahama.
“We know that this government believes in the tenets of the rule of law; that you just cannot impound and seize the [equipment] so our lawyers are already involved. Already we are facing a lot of financial losses. We are going to go through the legally laid down process,” Communications Officer of Exton Cubic Group Limited, Samuel Gyamfi, told Joy News.
However, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah says he is not perturbed.
According to him, “they can do and say whatever they want to say; what I am saying is that the minister should bring the documents; what is difficult about this . . . it’s one too many; you should know there is a Regional Minister, there are District Chief Executives (and so in such situations) inform them so that when something happens they will be able to defend it.”
Tano-Offin Forest Reserve
The Tano-Offin Forest Reserve which is located in Kyereyaaso in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, is a Globally Scientific Biodiversity Area which is strictly protected, according to the Forestry Commission.
The Offin River passes through this forest reserve which has a total area of 41,392ha (413.92km2). It is the 4th largest Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) in Ghana and has been classified as a protected area because of its significant biological importance to human existence.
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com
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DON'T PEOPLE KNOW THAT NPP IS EASILY BRIBED THAN NDC? WAITE AND SEE BEFORE WE KNOW THE REGIONAL MINISTER WILL FALL AS A BAITE TO IBRAHIM FOR MONEY. SOME PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY KEN AGYAPONG TALKS TOO MUCH,SUCH NUNSENCE WILL NOT PASS INFRONT OR IN HIS TWO EYES.WHO SAID SIR JOHNN AND AMEWUU ARE NOT CORRUPT?
The regional minister wants noko fiooo, trust me.
Master calm down. It is politics versus time. No amount of noise will make you the permanent minister of the region.
All ministers are equal in rank. So if an approval has been given in Accra is important that the one under whose jurisdiction that the company is going to operate be informed. The same minister was all over bounding mining but now approving new ones without lifting the bound.
look at this substandard old man.no wonder that is why all of you have back ward thinkers substandard people.
Massa Ojam; you are CORRECT OHH OH !!!!!!; the whole lience saga is a BIG SCAM by Ibrahim Mahama and his sibling Jon Mahama and the NDC to rape Ghana of its resources but the sad fact is that some NPP ministers are involved in this racket Sir John and Amewu are seeking to condone this fraud !!!!!!; these men should be watched carefully ; why is Amewu not backing the regional minister simple request ; Nana Addo should suspend the whole operations and call to order Mr Amewu because it is so that sad suddenly this man has turned to be corrupr and is being bribed by this Ibrahim Mahama does ; these Mahama family think Ghanaians are fulls ; they cheated under Jon Mahama and the NDC and stole our resources -WHY ? ; Who are these Exton Cubic Group ; this Company should be investigated ; I will not surprised if it owed by the Mahama families ; these are thiffs ; NANA ADDO WAKE UP !!!!!!!because these NDC RATS will eventually name you as the most corrupt leader in history apart from Jon Mahama .
Kudos Reg Min. I cannot phantom how on earth anybody in his right sense would issue a permit at this time that the country as a whole is fighting against the destruction of our environment.Couldn't they have waited for things to be streamlined. Why the rush? Amewu and Owusu Afriyie you shock me. This no be NPP nor NDC matter oh, Massa this be our future and those yet unborn. THINK NPP
the nyinahinhene is himself a persona non grata in nyinahin; the youth are looking for him and he is hiding in accra. the townsfolk are ready to destool him if he ever sets foot at nyinahin.
@ Nana Kwame Nsiah 11 Are you really a chief?No wonder Kwame Nkrumah wanted to banish that institution.What employment are you talking about?What kind of country is this,that people are so avaricious ,so greedy they don't care abut the environment ,about what will happen to generations yet unborn Every ***barred word*** wants to drive an SUV live in a mansion. Why are the youth you claim will get job opportunities the ones who stopped that greedy motherf*cker Ibrahim from entering the forest? If the chiefs before you had desecrated the forest would you be in a position to babble this nons3nse about this rape of the country's resources by this monkey from the North?Is Ibrahim not satisfied with what he stole when his megalomaniac brother was in office?Nana if you don't keep your trap shut one of these days your subjects will tar and feather you.I think the regional minster ought to be commended.
It is so pitiful when our youth who are unemployed get themselves pushed by selfish politicians into this sort of irresponsible acts. The purpose of this venture is to bring employment opportunities to the Nyinahin and its youth. But because of hatred by some weak minded politician directed at Ibrahim Mahama, a well intended employment opportunity is being turn into a garbage. I am glad the Omahene of the area is not supporting the selfish politicians sitting in their comfort seats in Kumasi and Accra.