We have not banned Okobeng Mining Limited from mining in Dominase – Gwira Traditional Council
The Gwira Traditional Council has called on the general public to disregard reports claiming it has banned the gold mining activities of Okobeng Mining Company Limited in the area.
This follows earlier reports on social media.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, February 2, the Head of the Amankrapanyin family, Nana Alu Menza III stated that Angama Tuagyan who is reported to have issued the statement has no authority to do so as he is not the recognized Paramount Chief of Gwira.
According to him, his chieftaincy claim is currently being challenged at the Sekondi High Court and he is yet to be issued a gazette certifying his claim to the Gwira stool.
Thus, the embattled chief has no chieftaincy and traditional authority to ban Okobeng Mining Company which has been legally mining in the area for almost 25 years without violating the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006(ACT 703).
He noted that Okobeng Mining Company Limited, as a result can continue mining on its concession at Dominase.
Meanwhile, concerned residents of Dominase and neighbouring communities are calling on the government to set up an independent committee to probe the illegal invasion of Okobeng Mining Company Limited’s mining concession at Dominase by galamseyers.
The group accused some politicians and senior police officers in the Western Region of impeding the prosecution of the illegal miners arrested on Okobeng’s gold concession in Dominase on Wednesday, January 18.
“We are calling on you as our President to intervene in this matter to ensure that justice prevails because some galamseyers in the Western Region were arrested for committing the same offence.
“However these illegal miners were prosecuted and jailed and are currently serving their jail terms in prison. So the question to be asked is ‘does it mean that these galamseyers who were jailed don’t have politicians to front for them and that is why they were jailed?’
“Our President must wake up now if indeed he wants to fight [against] illegal mining activities. We are urging our President to ensured that the illegal miners who were arrested and granted bail for unlawfully invading the gold mining concession of Okobeng Mining Company Limited at Dominase also face the full rigour of the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” they appealed to President Akufo-Addo.
Source: Ghana News
