The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, had explained that the directive was issued because the company’s three mining leases were invalid.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jlTdK0r0o5ojKGHe6DRlgMRxmrzPAZyx”]Mr. Amewu explained that the company’s failure to provide key documents covering its acceptance of the lease, notice of pendency, environmental impact assessment and other statutory requirements rendered the leases invalid.

In a letter to Exton Cubic, Mr. Amewu said “the absence of publications of the Gazette of notice of the pendency of the company’s applications and service of the notice on the various entities specified in the law is contrary to both section 13(2) of Act 703 and Regulation 177 of L.I. 2176 [Minerals and Mining Regulations.]”

But the Public Relations Officer of Exton Cubic, Sammy Gyamfi, on Eyewitness News indicated that, his outfit was currently “studying the letters received from government” before “seeking redress by taking the necessary legal steps.”

“We will take the appropriate legal steps to seek redress… These are technical and legal issues which our lawyers will go through,” he stated.

Mr. Gyamfi further indicated that, government’s claims in the letters issued to Exton Cubic were false, saying “in the coming days, we will delve into the details of the two letters and we will demonstrate to you that the facts and complaints contained in those government letters are totally false. The claims are totally untenable.”

Mr. Gyamfi insisted that Exton Cubic had not breached the law as far as the exploration of bauxite was concerned.

“We ask our supporters to remain calm. There is no cause for alarm. We have not done anything untoward. We are pursuing our objective of ensuring that Nyinahen Bauxite is exploited for the benefit of Ghanaians.”

The mining company, which was granted a license  on December 29, 2016,  insists it followed due process in the acquisition of the mining license despite claims by the EPA and Mineral’s Commission  that it was in breach of the law.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’ll sue gov’t over withdrawal of exploration permit – Exton Cubic appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Critics have warned that the deal to exploit the about-$460 billion worth of bauxite in the area could potentially pollute water sources, like the River Birim, around the reserves, but speaking on the BBC’s Focus on Africa on Thursday, Mr. Osafo Maafo indicated that the bauxite could be exploited without harming the river.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zbw0Cyquyvq4va4T1kctZtVffEisBLls”]The Senior Minister also said there could be a scenario where the Atiwa forest was not considered for bauxite exploration.

He noted that “there are two major deposits of bauxite in Ghana, the bigger one is the Nyinahin deposit, and not the Atiwa one. Therefore, what we are talking about can be done without touching the Atiwa [Forest].”

But in the event it became necessary to tap into the bauxite deposits in Atiwa, Mr. Osafo Maafo said this could be done without polluting the Birim.

“You can exploit the bauxite in Atiwa from the north-eastern side without affecting the River Birim… The bauxite deposit covers a very extensive area. The river takes its sources from a particular side and you can do it without affecting the river source.”

The Birim River is already heavily polluted as a result of illegal mining activities.

Deal will benefit ordinary Ghanaian

On the long-term benefits of the deal, the Senior Minister toed the line of the Akufo-Addo administration’s rhetoric on job creation and said the government was “more that satisfied that this will benefit the ordinary Ghana.”

“The creation of employment out the exploitation of our natural resources can only be beneficial to our people in terms of job creation. If you have $460 billion worth of items and you need $10 billion to access it and create employment in the region of over 100,000, then what you must be mindful of is the price at which you barter this product for the $10 billion.”

Cautious Optimism with China deal

After the Vice President returned from China with news of the $15 billion commitment from the Asian powerhouse, the Director of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEDC), Dr. Steve Manteaw urged cautious optimism with respect to the conditions of the deal.

The Vice President had indicated that the China deal would leverage heavily on Ghana’s untapped natural resources such as bauxite and iron ore.

The environmental angle soon came to the fore when an opposition MP and former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini warned of far-reaching implications on Atiwa, which has been declared a global biodiversity area because of the presence of exotic species.

Also, A Rocha Ghana, a conservationist NGO, said Ghana risked a severe water crisis if it sacrificed its bauxite resources in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.

The NGO said more than 5 million Ghanaians including residents in some parts of Accra may not have access to potable water when the move is initiated.

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

The post Atiwa bauxite can be explored without harming Birim – Osafo Maafo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.