The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, has confirmed that his Ministry granted Exton Cubic Group Limited an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession in the Tano Offin Forest reserve to prospect for Bauxite.
The Minister’s clarification follows some confusion that led to the seizure of mining equipment belonging to Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P), which was to do some preparatory work in the forest for Exton Cubic.
Reports surfaced that Exton Cubic and E&P were operating illegally in the forest but the mining company refuted the claims noting that it had legally acquired the Nyinahini Bauxite concession as far back as August 14, 2013.
Exton Cubic Group accused the Ashanti Regional Minister of unlawfully ordering the impounding of E&P’s vehicles and detaining its officers.
The company’s assertion that it was operating legally was corroborated by Mr. Amewu who confirmed that it had been given the go ahead in 2013.
“This project commenced somewhere in 2013. They began the due diligence processes through which they were granted the prospective lease around 2015. They have the entry permit from the Forestry Commission and the necessary EPA was done during the exploration period.”
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.”
“What that mining lease does is for him to go back and start the whole processes again; going through the application for forest entry permit, the EPA processes and a lot of things that will need to be done.”
“As it stands now, he has the mining lease, he has the entry permit to enter the forest but the EPA and other things that are very important have not yet been granted and he has also not been granted an operating permit which will finally mandate him to do the production.”
Minister awaiting official documents
Speaking to Citi News earlier, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah said he was waiting on official documentation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources before releasing vehicles and equipment belonging to E&P.
According to him, he was told by Mr. Amewu, that only three mining companies were operating in the Ashanti Region; AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi, Asanko Gold and Oware Mines limited at Konongo. “so if there are any amendments, it should be communicated to us.”
Thus any developments must be communicated to the region, he said.
Source: citifmonline.com
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If Ibrahim can trick this minister, then I think Amewu is stuuuuuuuuppppiddd and incompetent.
anglo gold oo, ashanti gold oo all galamsey be galamsey they shld all stop. we r preserving our forest and the environment. if all of them cannot be prevented from mining then Ibrahim Mahama can also mine too. he is a Ghanaian and stop that partisan politics.
I always knew that some of the big wigs holding the banner of antigalaMsay (and receiving public praises) are actually engaged in underhand dealings on the blind side of the public. They are a disgrace to the very people who chose them so servce and should be sacked. We are in a country where individual's interest override that of the state, no matter much it affects the nation. DISGRACE DISGRACE DISGRACE!!!
AMEWU HOW CAN YOU DEFEND IBRAHIM MAHAMA?YOU NEED TO BE SACKED.
@STOP INSUKTING.....Amewu Massa; I cannot understand why people do not wish to obey the law but choose to paint Ghana as a lawless state ; Ghana is attempting to the apply laws and will not allow one family the Mahama family to ignore the and do what they want because Ghana is not their personel property besides this thiff Ibrahim Mahama is bringing the NDC name into disrepute because anything that happens comes in the name of NDC because he and his brothers are associated with the NDC Kriminal band ; did this company Cubic Group follow and do the right basic required rules required of all big mining compaies because if you are issued with a lience it does not necessary follow that you can go and start mining ; you need to publicise the whole within the community ; hold meetings with the community ; did Cubic Group get an enviromental permission and show the effects on the enviroment ; did Amewu check all these things before the lience was issued to this company besides Nana Addo is in the process of streamlomg the mining industry of which Amewu is involved so why does Amewu shoot himself in foot by underming the process of claening the mining industry ; why does Amewu support this Ibrahim Mahama ; to me Amevu is an idiooooot !!!!!!and should sway from his previous strict attitude towards claeaning the industry ; he should not take 'NOKOFIO' from these Mahama family because Ibrahim Mahama and his brother Jon Mahama are thiffs besides a GOO NAME IS BETTER THAN RICHES
this amewu guy is playing double standards turning a blind eye to a company with ewe presence. he cannot be trusted anymore as a minister of lands. he should be reshuffled immediately. i think he come to the end of the road.
What is Amewu saying. Is the mining lease valid when Hon. Bagbin is saying that it did not receive parliamentary approval as per the mining law.Let him go and mine in the north they also need investor
This minister is defending that illegal mining action because of th ewe people involved in the company! I urge my people in Nyinahin to resist this day robbery by mahama and his corrupt family companies! They could go to the volta and northern regions and mine there, but not on our land, period!
I suspect a foul play here, this Minister Amewu needs to be replaced right away, Ghanaians VOTED for a change, the issue of Mahama's belong to the past, Amewu needs to be very careful
The mess these Mahamas have created in Ghana should put them in prison, rather than giving them another chance (licence) to destroy our forest in Ashanti Region. I blame Akuffo Addo, who is treating them with kid's grove. Even if Amewu grants him the licence, the people in the village should not allow him to mine the forest.