The Council also appealed to the government to release the accumulated funds in the Obuasi Community Trust Fund, which was established during the AngloGold Ashanti operations to the Allodial Owner (the Paramount Chief).

That, he said, would help resolve teething challenges in the area such insanitary conditions and inadequate school infrastructure.

It said a Consultant was engaged, who produced the blueprint for the formation of the Trust Fund, noting that, at the time of the formation of the Fund, the Paramount Stool was vacant, hence the inability to utilize the monies for the intended purpose.

This was contained in a statement read by Nana Akwasi Yentumi Asante, Adansihene’s Special Aide to Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II, Adansihene, and President of the Adansi Traditional Council when a delegation from the Adansi State paid a courtesy call on John Peter Amewu, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in Accra.

The delegation of chiefs and opinion leaders was led by Nana Kwae Pinsan II, Adansi Kusahene, who doubles as the Adansi Twafohene.

The statement said as part of the diversification drive, the Obuasi Rejuvenation Working Committee is considering the establishment of a technical university and a Special Mine Museum at Obuasi and asked for government’s support.

It expressed appreciation to the President, the Cabinet and members of the Council of State for rejuvenating the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine concession.

It said 60 per cent of the concession should be properly regulated so as to harness the full potential in terms of mineable gold reserves to improve the lots of the people in the area.

It suggested that the government should release 60 per cent of the concession to large mining firms that have the capacity, logistics and technical know-how to help government maximize the reserves.

It appealed to government to investigate and consider withdrawing the operating licence of Pelangio Mining Group, a Canadian mining firm, which has been operating in Adansi for the past 12 years, for failing to fulfill its social obligations and showing gross disrespect to the traditional authorities.

‘‘Nananom unleashed their anger on illegal miners and some large-scale mining companies, who took undue advantage of the supposedly weak monitoring system of the Ministry and the Minerals Commission, and went overboard to even mine for gold when in principle, they should have just undertaken reconnaissance and exploration but not actual gold mining,’’ it stated.

Mr Amewu, in his response, assured the delegation that government would undertake the necessary consultations to resolve the concerns enumerated to bring peace and harmony to the area.

He said government was determined to curb all activities of illegal mining and make sure that, the host communities benefit from mining operations in the area.

–

Source: GNA

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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu announced the extension at an awards ceremony by the Bureau of Research, Governance, Commerce and Administration, saying the move had become necessary after small-scale miners failed to meet the target set for them to have it reviewed.

The Director of Operations for the Association of Small Scale Miners, Emmanuel Yirenkyi explained in an interview with Citi News that the executives of the body will deliberate on government’s decision and proffer remedies at Friday’s meeting.

“The National Executives are going to meet on the statement and we will look at it critically and we are also going to consider the various engagements we have had with the government and activities we have done together as stakeholders and then come out clearly to respond,” he said.

“We are going to consider the level of trust between the government and John Peter Amewu. We need to consider the dimensions of all these and what could have necessitated that particular statement from the Minister.”

Talks over mining ban

The announcement of the extension of the ban comes weeks after the Minister had indicated that his outfit was holding talks with the Small Scale Miners Association on the possibility of lifting the ban.

Mr. Amewu stated that lot more needed to be done before the ban can be lifted.

He said though government had rolled out measures to clamp down on activities of illegal miners, results yielded so far in the crusade were still unsatisfactory.

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale miners, whose members have been largely affected, had warned of dire consequences should the ban be extended again.

The Association urged the Ministry to lift the ban and rather ensure strict enforcement of the country’s mining laws.

‘Small-scale miners stage protest’

In September 2017, some small-scale miners in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, staged a demonstration against the ban,

Despite some police arrests and firing of tear gas at the protesters, the organizers described the demonstration as successful.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Small-scale miners to meet over mining ban extension appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Following the widespread devastation of water resources and forest reserves as a result of the activities of illegal mining, government, in January 2017 placed a ban on small scale mining for a period of six months.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UQLhGLSyFprXJIhqKWmDW7YCGclN9A6v”]The ban was however extended in October 2017, for another three months, which ended in January 2018.

But speaking at an awards ceremony by the Bureau of Research, Governance, Commerce and Administration,  the Lands and Natual Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu explained that his outfit had to extend the ban again after small scale miners failed to meet the target set for them to have it reviewed.

“The ban has invariably been extended because we have not lifted it. We met with the Association and clearly our targets have still not been met. The ban is still in force until we have reviewed our performance and given an indication of what to do next.”

The Minister also indicated that his outfit will maintain the moratorium on all activities of small-scale mining until it was convinced that, illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey” had been completely eradicated.

Talks over mining ban

The announcement of an extension comes weeks after the Minister had indicated that his outfit is holding talks with the Small Scale Miners Association on the possibility of lifting the ban.

Mr. Amewu stated that lot more needed to be done before the ban can be lifted.

He said though government had rolled out measures to clamp down on activities of illegal miners, results yielded so far in the crusade were still unsatisfactory.

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale miners, whose members have been largely affected, had warned of dire consequences should the ban be extended again.

The Association urged the Ministry to lift the ban and rather ensure strict enforcement of the country’s mining laws.

‘Small-scale miners stage protest’

In September 2017, some small-scale miners in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, staged a demonstration against the ban,

Despite some police arrests and firing of tear gas at the protesters, the organizers described the demonstration as successful.

–

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

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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.

This is after an Accra High Court on Thursday overturned the decision by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, to revoke the company’s mining license to prospect on the concession in the Ashanti Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”uuEA20RWADWXBVrvtfvkWxPoIfvlHRUp”]The court presided over by justice Kwaku Ackah Boafo said the sector minister exceeded his powers by withdrawing the license.

But Mr. Dame, speaking on Eyewitness News, said, although the court quashed the decision of the minister, it still concurred with the assertion that the activities of Exton Cubic were illegal.

He also intimated that, his outfit will also be looking into the circumstances under which a company with affiliations to Ibrahim Mahama, was granted the mining lease when his brother, John Mahama was President.

“These are matters of monumental importance. We have to even look at the processes, [asking] how come just a week before the handover of power by a real government, the President of the day, through the Ministers will convey a mining lease to a company owned by [the president’s] brother. These are things we have to look at.”

“We don’t rush. We will take our time to do things. We will probe into how these infractions were committed and committed in favour of the company owned by the brother of the then-President [Mahama] granting about 79 percent of the nation’s known bauxite resources in the company’s favour,” the Deputy AG said.

Background

Exton Cubic after a series of threats in October 2017, filed an application for a review of the decision to revoke the company’s leases to prospect in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve.

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.

In their suit, the company argued that the Minister’s decision was unreasonable, unjust, and an abuse of his powers.

The company, among others, sought a declaration that “the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources acted ultra vires [beyond] his statutory powers when he revoked Exton Cubic Group Limited mining leases.”

It also contended that, revoking of its license was “breach of the rules of natural Justice”, and in breach of the company’s “rights to administrative justice and property.”

The matter came to public attention when earth moving equipment and vehicles belonging to Exton Cubic’s sub-contractor, Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P), were impounded at Nyinahin, the community where the forest reserve is located.

This was on the orders of the Ashanti Regional Minister following suspicions the mining company was operating illegally.

At the time, Mr. Amewu came out to say that his Ministry had granted Exton Cubic Group Limited an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession.

The directive was to revoke the permits was issued because the company’s three mining leases were found to be invalid.

The Sector Minister said 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.]”

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

The post We will still pursue Ibrahim Mahama, Exton Cubic – Dame appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the court, the Minister, Peter Amewu, exceeded his powers by withdrawing the license of the mining company, which has affiliations with Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P).

[contextly_sidebar id=”tly8KZNhIFVX4YFE4tyQGJx3nSUbtbsZ”]Mr. Amewu, revoked the company’s leases and licenses to prospect in the Nyinahini bauxite concession of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, describing the company’s operations there as illegal because of invalid mining leases.

But the judge, Justice Kwaku Ackah Boafo, held that the decision was not grounded in law and violated the principle of natural justice.

He added that, it was only the court which could revoke mining licenses in such circumstances.

The judge also questioned how Mr. Amewu could assume the role as an adjudicator, while he was a stakeholder in the matter.

Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who represented the state,had opposed the application describing it as incompetent in form and lacking substance.

Background

Exton Cubic after a series of threats in October 2017, filed an application for a review of the decision to revoke the company’s leases to prospect in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve.

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 John Dramani Mahama.

In their suit, the company argued that the Minister’s decision was unreasonable, unjust, and an abuse of his powers.

The company, among others, sought a declaration that “the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources acted ultra vires [beyond] his statutory powers when he revoked Exton Cubic Group Limited mining leases.”

It also contended that, revoking of its license was “breach of the rules of natural Justice”, and in breach of the company’s “rights to administrative justice and property.”

The matter came to public attention when earth moving equipment and vehicles belonging to Exton Cubic’s sub-contractor, Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P), were impounded at Nyinahin, the community where the forest reserve is located.

This was on the orders of the Ashanti Regional Minister following suspicions the mining company was operating illegally.

At the time, Mr. Amewu came out to say that his Ministry had granted Exton Cubic Group Limited an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession.

Why permit was first revoked 

Mr. Amewu had explained that, the directive was issued because the company’s three mining leases were invalid.

The Minister said 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.]”

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Court quashes Amewu’s withdrawal of Exton Cubic’s license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The site used to be a habitat for fishes and other water creatures, as well as a stopover for migrating birds.

It emerged during the Minister’s tour today [Tuesday], that a large portion of the site has been encroached by private people.

Mr. Amewu, who could not fathom what he saw, publicly reprimanded the Director of Operations of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, David Kpelle.

–

By: Kojo Agyeman/ citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t to halt projects on Sakumono Ramsar site appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

To this end, he says the Ministry is putting a land acquisition policy in place to check the practice where state lands are sold to the aforementioned category of people.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hj1XmBMFhqWqhAptjxel6vx2pKcJfeHo”]The Ministry some two months ago constituted a committee to investigate the inappropriate sale of state lands to over four hundred individuals mainly made up of politicians.

The Committee had the task to recommend a solution that will make this trend a thing of the past.

Speaking to Citi News on the progress of  the committee’s work, the Lands and Natural Resource Minister, John Peter Amewu, said mistakes which saw government lands sold to politicians and some selfish individuals to the detriment of the collective good of the nation, will be addressed.

“The committee has started its job for almost a month now, and I am aware they are almost finalizing their findings for presentation to the Ministry. There are processes for allocating government land, and as a government, we are not against the concept of redevelopment which started as far back as President’s Kufuor’s regime, but the methodology is what we are very keen about that it should follow a laid down procedure and so areas that will be used for redevelopment for the benefit of the country, we will not have any problem. The issue is when the individual looks for more lucrative areas for selfish interest.”

The Minister also outlined new policy initiatives that will make the sale of state lands very difficult.

“We have realized that the Lands Ministry has done what it could do to enable us achieve some of these registration processes, but they have not been able to fully digitize their operations. In our manifesto as a party, we did tell Ghanaians that the land administration processes are going to be established, so we are moving gradually from current manual to a more digital format.”

“We think that if you streamline registration processes and government on its own, it is also able to come out with compensation payments to lands that have been acquired, then this administrative problems should be addressed completely.”

–

By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Amewu moves to deal with ‘illegal buyers’ of gov’t lands appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Minister, John Peter Amewu, revoked the company’s leases and licenses to prospect in the Nyinahini bauxite concession of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, describing the company’s operations there as illegal because of invalid mining leases.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HNz8ywxTH05SbMrwbo4pv1PG9wcAIJBz”]Prior to this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), had indicated that Exton Cubic reneged on commitments to submit a liability estimate of environmental degradation, among others.

But Exton Cubic, in an application for a review of the decision at the High Court, has argued that the Minister’s decision was unreasonable, unjust, and an abuse of his powers.

The company, among others, is seeking a declaration that “the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources acted ultra vires [beyond] his statutory powers when he revoked Exton Cubic Group Limited mining leases.”

It also contends that, revoking of its license was “breach of the rules of natural Justice”, and in breach of the company’s “rights to administrative justice and property.”

Exton Cubic is further seeking an order quashing the minister’s decision to revoke the mining leases, and “an order of injunction restricting the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources or his agents from interfering with Exton Cubic’s rights acquired.”

Aside from this, the company also wants to protect its rights to the concession, and is thus seeking an order of injunction preventing the Ministry “from granting the rights acquired by Exton Cubic Group to any other person.”

Since the start of this saga in August 2017, Exton Cubic has threatened to use available legal means to overturn government’s revocation of its license, although Mr. Amewu maintained that, the mining company’s processes in acquiring the lease were questionable.

“The processes leading to the grant of the license were not quite clear and were not transparent, very opaque. So it called for a lot of questions. We believe that if the processes had taken time and the duration for the various permits were within the framework, this issue wouldn’t have come out,” the sector Minister said on the matter.

The matter came to public attention when earth moving equipment and vehicles belonging to Exton Cubic’s sub-contractor, Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners (E&P), were impounded at Nyinahin, the community where the forest reserve is located.

This was on the orders of the Ashanti Regional Minister following suspicions the mining company was operating illegally.

At the time, Mr. Amewu came out to say that his Ministry had granted Exton Cubic Group Limited an entry permit into the Nyinahin bauxite concession.

–

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

The post Exton Cubic finally sues Amewu over withdrawal of permit appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The initial six-month ban was set to end in October 2017, but the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, has said the extension of the ban is inevitable because the moratorium had not achieved a substantial amount of its objectives.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0GiDRPsNy6hivz7GJsdP2mpUguSIHoYm”]During a tour of some mining sites in the Amenfi East District, Mr. Amewu expressed his displeasure with the state of affairs concerning the protection of the environment, and said he will propose before cabinet an extension of the moratorium.

Speaking to the media, he even said President Nana Akufo-Addo “thinks sincerely that a lot more needs to be done and we will all have to look into it.”

A concrete announcement on the extension is to be expected next week, Mr. Amewu said.

Per his assessment, the government is still far off from its targets, in the fight against illegal mining.

“I graded what we have done to about 15 percent, so there is about 85 percent to cover up. So it tells you extensive work still needs to be done… A target rate of 60 to 65 percent can give us some confidence of going back.”

Thus, the Minister stated that “at this stage, I don’t think it is proper for us to say go back [to mining]. We cannot do that and they [the small-scale miners] themselves know.”

The miners have complained that the government’s clamp down on illegal mining activities has seen them treated like illegal miners.

They lamented that Small Scale Miners did their best to satisfy the very rigorous legal regimes under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), in order to obtain licenses to operate thus, treating them like illegal miners was unfair.

They also recently protested over the temporary ban placed on small-scale mining activities, asserting that the ban was to end in September.

But being more definitive on the matter, Mr. Amewu concluded that, “of course, there is going to be an extension because we haven’t achieved what we are looking for, but we have put in modalities and during the extension period, a lot will be done.”

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

The post Ban on small-scale mining will be extended – Amewu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.