Mr. Osei Mensah’s action follows advice from the Attorney General urging him to do so.

This is according to a letter sighted by Citi News from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

In August 2017, Mr. Osei Mensah, ordered the seizure of the equipment because Exton Cubic was said to be prospecting without a permit at the Nyinahini bauxite concession of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve.

At the time, the mining company maintained that the seizure of vehicles belonging to Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P) was unlawful because it was in possession of three required permits.

The company had also complained that it was being targeted by the government for political reasons, due to Ibrahim Mahama’s relations with former President Mahama.

It further complained that the confusion in Nyinahin and the seizure of the equipment was costing over $40,000 daily.

But the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, eventually revoked these permits because they were found to be invalid due to non-compliance on the part of Exton Cubic.

The Sector Minister 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.

This decision was later overturned by a High Court after Exton Cubic filed an application for a review of the decision.

The court judgement held that Mr. Amewu exceeded his powers by withdrawing the license in line with Exton Cubic’s assertion that the Minister’s decision was unreasonable, unjust, and an abuse of his powers.

The court, however did not legitimize the operations of Exton Cubic in the Nyinahini bauxite concession.

A Deputy Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, has given some indications the government intends to further pursue the case of the validity of Exton Cubic Group Limited’s permits to prospect in the concession.

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

The post Release Exton Cubic’s equipment – Minister to police appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Before undertaking an activity or operation under the mining lease, Exton Cubic shall obtain the necessary approvals and permits as may be required by law from the Forest Commission on Water Resources Commission and the Environment Agency or any other regulatory body,” a statement from the Minerals Commission said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SIXksM1ZXY56SUYKlr1BlxL4ZCp0qimK”]“The mining lease is subject to ratification by Parliament in accordance with Article 26811, the Constitution and Section 5(4) of Act 7013. Upon execution of this mining lease, the company shall submit a certified true copy of the mining lease to the Minister to be laid before Parliament for ratification,” the statement added.

Though the Exton Cubic applied for a permit to undertake the prospecting of bauxite in the area; it failed to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations rendering the permits null and void.

The Commission further indicated that the validity of Exton Cubic’s forestry permit is strictly contingent upon its fulfillment of “all statutory regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission (WRC), and the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission pertaining to legitimate mining operations in a forest reserve.”

The order follows claims by the EPA that Exton Cubic Group Limited’s current operations in the Nyinahin bauxite concession are illegal.

The Commission also asked Exton Cubic to halt operations at the bauxite concession until it obtains permit from regulatory bodies and meets other requirements.

The seizure of mining equipment belonging to Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P), which was undertaking some preparatory work in the forest for Exton Cubic, culminated in the mining company accusing the Ashanti Regional Minister of unlawfully impounding vehicles belonging to Engineers and Planners and detaining its officers.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, had earlier tried to clarify the situation by confirming that his Ministry granted Exton Cubic an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession.

But the EPA in a statement said, “the bottom line is that Exton Cubic Group limited has not obtained the required EPA permit under its mining lease and therefore, any attempt to enter the area for mining is illegal.”

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

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