Reports suggest that the four who were transporting an excavator to a mining site fled and abandoned their equipment upon seeing a team from Operation Vanguard.

But speaking to Citi News Commanding Officer of Operation Vanguard, Colonel William Agyapong said “I don’t know where the story is coming from.”

“Only last week there was another story that Operation Vanguard had killed somebody at Juaboso district. If its propaganda it will fail because the good people of Ghana will see through it. I have crosschecked with the patrol team that went to Akukuso yesterday and they had no activity in the town, it is falsehood, it has nothing to do with our operation,” he insisted.

Police report

The Kwabend district police in its preliminary report said their attention was drawn to the death of the four on Sunday morning by one Isaac Annor.

“One yaw with three others was in charge of a low loader vehicle which was carting an excavator machine to extra gold mining concession at Akukuso near Kwabeng. That on reaching a section of the road…they were reported to have encountered personnel of the operation vanguard taskforce, so the operator and other occupants all abandoned the vehicle with the engine running but found no one onboard and still could not be traced. Police proceeded to the scene of the incident, combed the area and found an abandoned mining pit filled with water. Divers dived into it and retrieved four bodies…all wearing T-shirts and pair of trousers. Police found blood and foam oozing from their mouth and nostrils.”

We’re investigating incident

The statement said the bodies have been convened to the Police hospital for preservation and autopsy while investigations continue into the matter.

Operation Vanguard setbacks

The taskforce has come under intense backlash for burning the tractors, instead of putting them to some purposeful use.

The operation recorded a near setback about two weeks ago after the military personnel shot an illegal miner at Obuasi Anyimadukrom in the Ashanti Region.

Residents of Obuasi Anyimadukrom in the Ashanti Region have blocked roads leading to the town to express their anger after the anti-galamsey task force killed a resident there.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post We’ve no hand in death of Kwabeng miners – Anti-galamsey Task-force appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has explained that, as part of the 15 billion dollar deal, Ghana will leverage 5 percent of its Bauxite reserves, including the deposits in the Atiwa Forest.

Bauxite ‘mortaging’: 5m Ghanaians to lose access to potable water – NGO

[contextly_sidebar id=”sh1fZJhcWolqBeK2bMIxndldNd0YvN2H”]Concerns have been raised by some members of the Minority in Parliament that mining the bauxite might be detrimental to the forest reserve, and also affect several water bodies in the area.

However, the Government has clarified that the Atiwa Forest might not be considered for bauxite exploration and even if it is, this could be done without destroying the reserve.

Making a case for an alternative that will provide employment and also preserve the environment, the Coalition advised government to instead consider turning the forest into an eco-tourist site.

Addressing a press conference in Accra today [Wednesday], Daryl Bosu, the spokesperson for the coalition, said the present deal with the Chinese, which seeks to leverage bauxite lying beneath forests and vegetated off-reserve areas, will work against Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement submitted during COP 21.

He stated that, although some assurances had been given, the group wants government to take into account the dire consequences such an undertaken might have on the environment.

Below are the requests and proposals made by the Coalition to Government;

1. We are requesting government to as a matter of urgency to expunge Atewa Range Forest in Kyebi out of the deal with the Chinese. The Snr Minister has already indicated that Atewa is not on the list, but has also indicated a possibility of mining close to the range. This latter statement is not convincing enough and we ask for complete delisting of Atewa Range from the bauxite deal. In outlining what the money will be used for, the Vice President, further reiterated the fact that government will be leveraging on the Nyinahin and Kyebi Bauxite. This is worrying and inconsistent with the statement by the Snr Minister Osafo Marfo. We hope the government is very aware of the cliché, “…not all that glitters is gold” and that there are some things, that just can’t be traded for all the money in the world. Our forests and particularly Atewa Forest Reserve is one such asset and heritage that cannot be traded.

2. Again in furtherance to entrenching Ghana’s commitment to the SDGs particularly goals 6, 13 and 15, the government of Ghana should declare Atewa Range Forest Reserve as a National Park. This will certainly be the most lasting legacy generations will forever remember this administration for, together with bringing to a halt the activities of galamsey all over the country.

3. In respect of the request for the Atewa National Park, the government of Ghana needs to be aware that, plans are far advanced, with affirmed international commitment to support green development pathways, such as eco-tourism development, and sustainable cocoa production in agro-forestry systems within the Atewa Landscape to promote long-term water provisioning services, reduce poverty and contribute to socio-economic development within the region.
Just as the Vice President Said, ‘Ghana is indeed ready for big things’ Yes and we agree. That said, we need government to be mindful of the fact that the kind of big things we need is green investments that enhances our natural capital without compromising the ability of futures generations access to a healthy and sustainable environment.

Our Proposals to Government to harness the outstanding wealth of Atewa Range Forest are as follows:

1. Our vision is of an Atewa Living Landscape: with thriving communities at whose heart is its greatest natural asset – the Atewa Forest – protected in perpetuity and also provides economic benefits. This vision has broad support locally, nationally and internationally. It serves Ghana well, and offers a significant legacy for the current administration, especially on this 60th anniversary year of the Republic of Ghana that the Government has dedicated to the environment. It is a vision for an integrated landscape that respects the region’s history, its environment and its people, and one that bring development to the region in a sustainable way.

2. The main characteristics will be a flagship national park, with a thriving tourism industry that supports the operation of the National Park and brings much needed income to the surrounding communities. The wider landscape around the National Park forms an enterprise zone where land use practices that support the forest are encouraged from natural forest restoration to agro-forestry and commercial reforestation. This will constitute the crucial basis for a protected watershed for millions of people living downstream in the Eastern, Central and Greater Accra regions, as well as the residents of Kyebi and its environs, clean, safe, dependable and affordable domestic water. It will also provide the conditions for a viable agro-industrial sector within the landscape.

To achieve this we propose the following roadmap:

1. We ask the H. E the President to use his Executive Power to declare Atewa as a National Park. This provides security and stability for the implementation of subsequent activities including investments in ecotourism, agro-forestry and livelihood improvements. Designation can be achieved through an Executive instrument.

2. The government should work in partnership with key stakeholders to develop a landscape master plan, including a protected area management plan and buffer zone plan, including hydrology and reforestation.

3. Put in place a sustainable financing process to implement sustainable use options, including ecotourism, selling carbon emissions offsets in the voluntary market, sustainable forestry and certified cocoa.

Members of the Coalition:
A Rocha Ghana
Tropenbos Ghana
Friends of the Earth
Okyeman Environment Foundation
The Development Institute
Save the Frogs
Herp Ghana

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By: Kojo Agyeman/ciitifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NGOs make moves to stop bauxite mining in Atiwa Forest appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ahead of the announcement, some groups in various parts of the country have given strong indications they will resist appointees of a certain caliber who they believe would not serve their interest.

But the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen said the supporters must respect the President’s decision.

He said all party members must be willing to accept the president decisions.

“If every member of the party will adopt the posture of my good self, you’ll realize that ever since the nomination of this MMDCE thing started, I have kept a very low profile. Low profile in the sense that I have not involved myself actively in the issue of whoever becomes MMDCE…For whoever is selected or nominated as the MMDCE, I think that we should not be seen to be quarrelling over it,” he said.

It is feared that some groups who are aggressively lobbying for their preferred choice of MMDCE may cause chaos if the president appoints a candidate other than theirs.

President Akufo-Addo, who has the constitutional mandate of naming MMDCEs, is expected to announce the final list of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive appointees on Wednesday [April 26, 2017].

In a related development a group, calling itself the Concerned Youth of Atiwa, demonstrated on Tuesday to put pressure on President Akufo-Addo,  to appoint a District Chief Executive (DCE) from Atiwa East, to represent the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region.

The group, numbering about 200, marched through the principal streets of Anyinam, with placards indicating their unpreparedness to have a DCE from Atiwa West.

According to the spokesperson for the group, Dr. Samuel Ofori, all previous DCE appointees over the last 16 years, hailed from Atiwa West, and so the group believes that the new government must endeavor to appoint one from Atiwa East this time.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Support Akufo-Addo’s MMDCE appointees – NPP members urged appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to them, this concessionaire, one Yaw Ayebiahwe, invaded a mining site they were working on over the weekend with some armed land guards to arrest 12 of their group for mining within his territory.

[contextly_sidebar id=”K3LLLxAvETZXpokasZYa0JqlZam8LSjW”]One of the leaders of the illegal miners, Kelvin Fiame, spoke to Citi News and warned that the illegal miners may be forced to retaliate if government did not intervene.

He narrated that Ayebiahwe “came there and he was telling us that now his government is in power and that we are working on his concession so if we joke, he is going to kill us. They started shooting and most of our guys run away. Those who were afraid just lay down and he [Ayebiahwe] picked about 12 guys and took them to the police station.”

“Now we can’t even remove our equipment so we want the government to come in. The way Ayebiahwe is attacking us with guards, it is not that we don’t have money. We can also afford AK 47s and things but we are not at war here,” Kevin Fiame warned.

Meanwhile, confirming the incident to Citi News, police in the region said they have in custody the 12 men brought in by Ayebiahwe’s men.

The Eastern regional police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nketiah Yeboah spoke to Citi News said investigations have since begun to determine whether to arraign the 12 or grant them bail “but there is nothing of kidnapping in the arrest.”

“Investigations have just begun. If truly the suspects are guilty of encroachment or unlawful entry or anything of that nature. If they are not, we have no option but to release them,” ASP Yeboah said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Illegal miners call on gov’t to intervene in land dispute appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him due to governments good economic policies, the Ghanaian currency, the cedi, has become one of the best performing currencies in Africa.

Speaking at the launch of the Atiwa East and West Campaign in Ayinam in the Eastern Region, President Mahama said his track-record in managing the economy clearly shows he is a better option for Ghanaians in this election.

He called on the electorates not to buy into what he called, negative propaganda by his political opponents who prefer to preach doom about the economy.

“When I came to power there were three major problems, the first was the economy, it was unstable. Besides that was the power crisis and the third one was our social economic infrastructure which has to do with roads and schools, and for the last three years my attention has been on these three things. God has been good to us.”

“I am not saying that our economy is out of the woods but this year the Cedi that was depreciating is not the best performing currency in the whole of Africa. With regards to the power crisis, I could have blamed others for that but the crisis is because Ghana’s economy is growing,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ghana cedi is best performing currency in Africa – Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.