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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Carpenter (Voltarian) and Watchman/shepherd (northerner) join arms to exploit Ashanti resources. And you think the Ashanti regional minister will sit down. Ur modaaaa.
It is simple, the regional minister wants to see documentation. People cannot sit in Accra, take bribes, and based on that, decide who can exploit the resources of other regions. I fully support the regional minister. This is not NPP - NDC matter. In fact, this is the right thing. The regions must have a say in how their resources are exploited.
I SAY IN AUTHORITY THAT NANA NYIANHINHENE IS PURE NDC MAN EVERYONE IN NYIANHIN TOWNSHIP KNOWS WHAT AM TALKING ABOUT.HE COLLECTED HUGE SOME OF MONEY FROM IBRAHIM MAHAMA THAT IS WHY HE'S ANGRY WITH THE DCE FOR NOT ALLOWING THE MACHINES TO ENTER THE RESERVED FOREST WE THE YOUTH WILL RESISTS ANY MOVEMENT OF THAT COMPANY TO ENTER THE FOREST, WE ARE FULLY SUPPORT THE REGIONAL MINISTER AND THE DCE FOR PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES, VERY GREEDY KING EVER WITNESS , HE'S SO STRESS SINCE NDC LOST THE ELECTION 2016
Please before you start insulting the minister try and understand that he has his limitations and can only operate effectively with the assistance of the civil servants within his ministry. Unfortunately these civil servants are extremely corrupt to the core and they can and will try to bring down the minister because he is making it difficult for them to carry on their corrupt practice. This whole saga is nothing short of a sting operation at the ministries to undermine Amewu. Ibrahim Mahama knows very well that because of his tarnished image he will not get the licence if he applies for it therefore a different company applies for the licence by paying the usual bribe to those corrupt civil servants. After obtaining the licence they then subcontract the work to Abrahim Mahama as though he has nothing to do with the licence application yet if one is to carefully examine the documents used to obtain the licence and investigate the background of the company that applied for the licence, it will open up a can of worms. This is why the regional minister is asking for the appropriate files to be sent to him for further examination. The regional minister and the minister both need our support to bring to an end these illegal acts committed against the nation which in the end affects the ordinary masses negatively.
Another NPP idi0t displaying his ***barred word*** ignorance of the law. Ofcourse he can only be a minister for NPP.face of a monkey
amewu u have shown me that you are following the edddiot Mahama. We voted for change and you want to follow the deadddd goat family. Regional Minister, we support you, seize their equipment in the way Amewu seized galamsey people's equipment. If he wants bauxite, he should go to volta region and mine in amewu's hometown. kweassssshia.
rob Peter to pay Paul admin. oppo just watch they will destroy themselves.
amewu, your modda!! Ibrahim mahama, i will ***barred word*** in your mouth when i have running stomach. so get ready.
Mr. Ashanti Regional Minister keep it up! You are really doing a good job. How on earth should a mining company start operation without the knowledge of the Regional Minister or the DCE of the area?
Amewu is just sitting in Accra giving permits to his friends to destroy the region's resources whiles he attacks the poor rural galamsey people as if they are kriiminals. Regional Minister, We are BEHIND YOU!!! Amewu, you are WARNED!!!!