My mining activities have not destroyed the Ankobra River, other water bodies – Okobeng Mining CEO
The Chief Executive Officer of Okobeng Mining Company, Nana Okobeng Amponsah, has debunked widespread allegations that the gold mining activities on his mining concession at Dominase in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality of the Western Region has been destroying River Ankobra and other water bodies.
“I want to set the records straight today that these allegations leveled against my company are completely false, unfounded and cooked,” he said.
“I dare anyone who knows the concession to go and verify how my company carries its responsible gold mining activities and see if its mining activities destroy water bodies as being claimed by my detractors,” Nana Okobeng added.
Speaking in an interview with some senior journalists via telephone call on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, the seasoned miner stated that the allegations are false and a deliberate attempt by his critics to score points, saying that they have failed.
According to him, he legally secured various licenses from the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency to mine gold at Dominase, and that his company operates mining activities in the manner as described in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703.)
Nana Okobeng pointed out that those who are polluting the Akonbra River and other water bodies were the illegal small scale miners, popularly known as the galamsey who are indiscriminately mining gold resources from the communities such as Bamiankor, Ayinase, Amgbasea, Akango, Dualle and Akosono in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality.
He stated that the people in these areas can testify that his company’s activities do not contribute to the pollution of the Akonbra River and other streams and rivers in the area.
“When you go to Dominase in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality, the people will tell you I am against the pullution of water bodies by the galamseyers I save water bodies from the illegal miners.. I understand mining because that is where I’m coming from,” he stated.
He noted that he supported the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in fighting against illegal small scale mining activities by way of leading an anti-galamsey military task-force to some illegal concessions to clamp down on the illegal miners in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality.
“I’m serving this notice to each and every one that my concession within Dominase didn’t have hands in polluting of water bodies or Akonbra River as far as mining activities are concerned in the area.
“Nobody should dare mention my name or the name of my company on any media platform or publication that we have polluted water bodies because there would be dire consequences for those who will try to tarnish my company’s name again in this regard,” he warned.
Mincing no words, Nana Okobeng has warned that necessary legal actions will be taken against any person or media organization who is found to have written any story to tarnish his name and that of his company.
Source: Ghana News
