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A former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh has denied allegations of seizing the mining license of Kingston Okomeng Kissi, a former Board Chairman of the Precious Minerals and Marketing Company (PMMC).

Okomeng Kissi is alleged to have accused the former Lands Minister of cancelling his mining license whilst speaking on Accra-based radio station, Oman FM, aired on Net2 TV on the May 5, 2021.

Asomah-Kyeremeh, however, says he has never cancelled nor taken away Okomeng Kissi’s mining license as he (Kissi) alleges and will not be distracted by such baseless allegations with intentions to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

For him, the allegation is politically motivated, to demonise his tenure in office as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

Asomah-Kyeremeh through his counsel, Kwabena Asare Atuah in a statement dated May 28, 2021, said the allegations and “The actions of Kingston Okomeng Kissi is just to paint my client black before government and the party.”

He added, “This story is one of the unfortunate stories to tarnish the image of my client in the public domain. Kingston Okomeng Kissi’s claims are untrue and a total fabrication coming at a time my client is no longer in office.”

Mr Atuah explained that the “facts are rather that my client met with Kingston Okomeng Kissi at the office of the Chief of Staff once to discuss Kingston Okomeng Kissi’s claim of ownership of that site” and that after the said meeting, Mr Asomah-Kyeremeh tasked the Minerals Commission to look into the matter.

That, he noted, “The report from the Minerals Commission indicated that the area was encumbered and belonged to someone else who had secured all documentation.”

For Atuah, the former Lands and Natural Resources Minister did not play any role to take Okomeng Kissi’s mining licence, challenging him to produce any documentation contrary to the report of the Minerals Commission.

“We therefore ask Kingston Okomeng Kissi to produce whatever documents he (Kingston Okomeng Kiss) has showing that the area belonged to him (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) for which he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) claims my client took away,” he stated.

He further added, “As a miner, Kingston Okomeng Kissi has to know that a legitimate claim to a lease of license can only be proved by a valid mining lease.”

Mr Atuah said any interested party in the case can seek for further details on the issues from the Minerals Commission, which is the custodian of all leases and documents relating to mining.

Read below the statement by the Counsel for Lawyer Asomah-Cheremeh

28TH DAY OF MAY, 2021

SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

Respectfully, I act as Counsel for Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh (hereinafter referred to as my client) upon whose instructions I write this statement.

My client’s attention has been drawn to an audio circulating on social media and other media platforms where the former Board Chair of Precious Minerals and Marketing Company (PMMC) and the Eastern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Kingston Okomeng Kissi in an interview on Oman Fm and aired on Net2 TV on the 5th day of May, 2021 where he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) stated that, my client Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh then Minsiter for Lands and Natural Resources cancelled and took away the renewal of the mining lease of Kingston Okomeng Kissi and gave it out to other persons/entities.

Kingston Okomeng Kissi further claimed that when the documents were done, it was posted or pasted on the Nkawkaw Municipal Assembly’s notice board. The MCE wrote to the Minerals Commission that the said particular area on the documents belonged to someone so it cannot be given to another person. Kingston Okomeng Kissi further stated that he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) went to the office of my client with a petition and documents purporting that he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) owns the said area. The NDC could not take that particular area from him (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) but rather my client has taken away his (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) mining lease.

Kingston Okomeng Kissi further stated that the matter appeared before the Chief of Staff and same was deliberated upon for about ten (10) times and the Chief of Staff asked my client to give back the licence to Kingston Okomeng Kissi but my client refused.

My client wants to state emphatically that he has never cancelled nor taken away Kingston Okomeng Kissi’s licence as he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) claims.

The true facts are rather that my client met with Kingston Okomeng Kissi at the office of the Chief of Staff once to discuss Kingston Okomeng Kissi’s claim of ownership of that site.

My client tasked the Minerals Commission to look into the matter. The report from the Minerals Commission revealed that the area was encumbered and belonged to someone else who had already secured all necessary documentations.

We therefore ask Kingston Okomeng Kissi to produce whatever documents he (Kingston Okomeng Kiss) has showing that the area belonged to him (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) for which he (Kingston Okomeng Kissi) claims my client took away. As a miner, Kingston Okomeng Kissi has to know that a legitimate claim to a lease of licence can only be proved by a valid mining lease. Also, the law enjoins the regulatory body to ensure that mining is done in accordance with the terms of the lease or licence.

My client has not done what Kingston Okomeng Kissi is imputing to him as my client was very much aware it was unlawful and illegal to do that. This story is one of the unfortunate stories to tarnish the image of my client in the public domain. Kingston Okomeng Kissi’s claims are untrue and a total fabrication coming at a time my client is no longer in office.

The actions of Kingston Okomeng Kissi is just to paint my client black before government and the party. Kingston Okomeng Kissi should not forget that it took the collective responsibilities of party officers like Regional Chairmen to work tirelessly to bring the party into power. My client as a former Regional Chairman for the then Brong Ahafo Region cannot and will not treat Kingston Okomeng Kissi the manner he Kingston Okomeng Kissi is claiming against my client.

Thank you.

………………………………….
KWABENA ASARE ATUAH
COUNSEL FOR KWAKU ASOMAH-CHEREMEH