The controversial bauxite mining concession granted to Exton Cubic Group Limited owned by Inrahim Mahama – younger brother of former President John Dramani Mahama – is pitching two ministers in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration against each other.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, is not happy that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, is encouraging Ibrahim to move his equipment to the Nyinahin bauxite site for mining when there is a ban on mining in the region.
Mr Ibrahim Mahama, who claims he has concession to the mining site, moved his Engineers and Planners (E&P) heavy-duty equipment to the site but was prevented by the residents and the DCE of the area.
The vehicles were confiscated at a Nyinahin bauxite concession being explored by Exton Cubic Group Limited and some of the company’s officers were also allegedly detained.
Exton Cubic Group is owned by Ibrahim, with his wife Oona Maxwel, his brother Michael Mahama as well as a certain Kweku Pobee as directors.
A registration document sighted by myjoyonline shows that Exton Cubic Group was incorporated on August 18, 1999 and commenced operation the following day.
Brong-Ahafo Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP, Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC, yesterday indicated his intention to go back to court to stop Ibrahim from mining on the said concession.
Abronye had filed a suit against Ibrahim to strip him of the bauxite concession granted to him a few days to the exit of his brother from power.
The suit also cited the Attorney General as respondents and Abronye wants the Supreme Court to declare that the mining lease agreement between the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and the Exton Cubic Group Limited required parliamentary ratification under Section 5 (4) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
But Abronye said since the Supreme Court is on recess and Ibrahim has moved to the site, the court has to come in again and that this morning he is making another move.
Accusation
Exton Cubic Group accused Mr. Osei-Mensah and the District Chief Executive of the Atwima Mponua, Williams Darko, of unlawfully impounding E&P’s vehicles and detaining its officers.
The Ashanti Regional minister confirmed to the media that he had indeed given the directive after the DCE had informed him of the activity on the concession.
“They asked whether I knew anything about it and I told them I had no knowledge about it and that they should impound the vehicles until we get authorization from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources; and then I called the police to impound the vehicles.
“So we are waiting for written instructions from the minister, which should be accompanied by the various permits which should have been the normal route, and then we’ll put it on our file. We can then ask the people to go,” the regional minister told Citi Fm.
According to him, he was told by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, that only three mining companies were operating in the Ashanti Region namely, AngloGold Ashanti at Obuasi, Asanko Gold and Oware Mines Limited at Konongo “so if there are any amendments, it should be communicated to us.”
Amewu’s Response
However, Mr Amewu has confirmed that his outfit granted Exton Cubic Group Limited an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession in the Tano Offin Forest reserve to prospect for bauxite.
“This project commenced somewhere in 2013. They began the due diligence processes through which they were granted the prospective lease in 2015. They have the entry permit from the Forestry Commission and the necessary EPA was done during the exploration period,” he claimed.
He noted that Exton Cubic was still within the exploration framework, which is to end in December 2017, “but the mining lease has been granted in December.”
Chief Fights DCE
Meanwhile, the chief of Nyinahini, Nana Amampene II, has clashed with the DCE of Atwima Mponua, Williams Darko, over Exton Cubic Group’s presence at Nyinahini.
He said he had sternly cautioned Mr Darko, against the seizure of equipment belonging to the company since it could create confusion.
According to the chief, he and his elders are aware of Exton Cubic Group’s bauxite exploration mission in the Tano-Offin forest reserve at Nyinahini.
“I called the DCE on phone and reprimanded him for his weird stance of seizing the equipment of the company and also instigating the youth to rise up. This is one of the things that resulted in the cruel murder of a military officer at Denkyira-Obuase recently, so I am surprised about the behaviour of the DCE.
“Yes, I called and warned him over his behaviour,” the Nhyinahin chief stated during an interview with Nhyira FM in Kumasi on Tuesday.
Source: Daily Guide
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This chief is sick in not just the head but all over. instead of calming the angry youth of the town, he goes BANANAS instead. Ghana our motherland..........
Such a usssssllllssss thing of a chief..definitely his palms were greased on or before Decembr 29 when the concession was given to Exton so he can spew gabaage. Kudos Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, posterity will judge you well. Shame on sIR jOHN AND aMEWU..BIG SHAME
The Ashanti Minister should see to it that whether they HAVE Parliamentary Approval or NOT. This is main Document it should be submitted FIRST before other documents. No BACK DOOR mining approval.
this is the same way that chiefs in the villages grant the galamsey people the right to destroy the environment in exchange for schnapps and tobacco. The Nyinahini chief is a moddda fukking modda fokkka. The equipment must be seized and forfeited to the state. IF Ibrahim Mahama wants to mind bauxite he should go and do it in Bole Bamboi. THe place is a forest reserve, why are they allowing this coorrrrrrupt and toxic Mahama guy to go there and destroy it.
This Nyinahin Chief is not serious, you ve been destooled by your own people, yet to be confirmed by Otumfour and you are here talking rubbbish, if you are a man enough why don't you go to Nyinahin without the police and the military , ever since you ascended to the throne, Nyinahin has never known peace , innocent blood ve been shed, from Yaw Donkor , Alladulla pastor and the recent one, where three dead bodies were found in an uncompleted building in the town, is an open secret that your nephews are involved but the police ve failed to act because of your influence. I know for sure that God will deliver the people of Nyinahin from the hands corruptt, greddddy and eeevill men like you