The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (NCSSMAG) has noted with dismay, the attempt by President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government to absolve Akonta Mining from the allegations of illegal mining in some of the nations forest reserves, even before the matter, which is a subject of investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor is determined.
The president’s remarks at the 8th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association only goes to cement his government and party’s penchant for benefitting from the activities of illegal mining, which has been veiled by fake nomenclature of military operations and propaganda in recent years. It is absurd, to say the least, that our president, would stand in the midst of such an august gathering to declare that, Akonta Mining, and for that matter all other mining companies raiding our forests reserves had been cleared off as at the time he was speaking.
We wish to bring to the attention of the president and his government that, as at the time he spoke and even now, 210 out of the 294 forest reserves in the country have been earmarked as concessions for small scale mining activities per Minerals Commission records; NPP party financiers and other government apparatchiks are the biggest beneficiaries of this blatant rape of our environment.
In the coming days, the NCSSMAG shall present a detailed data of all other illegal mining activities presently ongoing in our forest reserves, which are being perpetrated by criminal Chinese nationals who are fronted by some Ghanaian government officials and being protected by state security to rip our forest cover for unethical gold.
Our understanding of the president’s remarks that “the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has, through the Forestry Commission and with the assistance of the military, cordoned off all 294 sites of forest reserves in the country and rid them of illegal mining”, is that, those sites have actually been cordoned off to give government-backed illegal miners the comfort to ravage our land without any interference.
Members of the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (NCSSMAG) have accused President Akuffo Addo and his NPP government for condoning illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey’, and even backing some members to practice it in deep forest reserves where the ordinary Ghanaians and being prevented from entering.
According to a release and fact findings document signed by Michael Kwadwo Peprah, national President of the association, the current Nana Addo led NPP government only pledge to fighting galamsey and do otherwise.
According to him, some known members of the current NPP government are aggressively abusing the non touchable forest reserves with their illegal mining activities.
Describing the government hypocrite, the association expressed shock over President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government recent move to absolve Akonta Mining from the allegations of illegal mining in some of the nations forest reserves, even before the matter, which is a subject of investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor is determined.
The statement however urged all Ghanaians to disregard the president’s comment on Akonta Mining and the state of illegal mining in the country in general with a pinch of salt.
They further listed number of locations within the Ashanti region and other areas where illegal mining are being practiced by the current NPP government and its functionaries.
Read the full statement below;
For immediate release
FOREST RESERVES IN GHANA UNDER SIEGE: THE NPP GOVERNMENT AND ITS FUNCTIONARIES ARE THE AGGRESSORS:
The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (NCSSMAG) has noted with dismay, the attempt by President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government to absolve Akonta Mining from the allegations of illegal mining in some of the nations forest reserves, even before the matter, which is a subject of investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor is determined.
The president’s remarks at the 8th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association only goes to cement his government and party’s penchant for benefitting from the activities of illegal mining, which has been veiled by fake nomenclature of military operations and propaganda in recent years. It is absurd, to say the least, that our president, would stand in the midst of such an august gathering to declare that, Akonta Mining, and for that matter all other mining companies raiding our forests reserves had been cleared off as at the time he was speaking.
We wish to bring to the attention of the president and his government that, as at the time he spoke and even now, 210 out of the 294 forest reserves in the country have been earmarked as concessions for small scale mining activities per Minerals Commission records; NPP party financiers and other government apparatchiks are the biggest beneficiaries of this blatant rape of our environment.
In the coming days, the NCSSMAG shall present a detailed data of all other illegal mining activities presently ongoing in our forest reserves, which are being perpetrated by criminal Chinese nationals who are fronted by some Ghanaian government officials and being protected by state security to rip our forest cover for unethical gold.
Our understanding of the president’s remarks that “the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has, through the Forestry Commission and with the assistance of the military, cordoned off all 294 sites of forest reserves in the country and rid them of illegal mining”, is that, those sites have actually been cordoned off to give government-backed illegal miners the comfort to ravage our land without any interferences.
For the avoidance of doubt, we hereby provide a brief list of forest reserves which are currently under the invasion of superpower excavators and bulldozers by aggressive criminal Chinese nationals and some government functionaries guarded by heavily armed state security officials.
Lot; No: Forest: District:
Name of site
1. Bekwai Denyau Site 1,2,3 Supoma Site 1, 2 Apapraman Forest Reserve, 2. Hiayeya Forest Reserve 1, 2 Bibiani Ntakem 3. Adansi Pomposo Forest Reserve.
In the Ashanti region alone, the gory spectacle of illegal mining is alive, well and in full force at Numereso, Bepo Tintin, Kubi, Watreso, Adamso, Bunsu, Brechakrom, Amponuase, to mention just a few; so the infidelity of the president in the fight against illegal mining can only be a hoax, mirage or something even worse.
We hereby call on all Ghanaians to disregard the president’s comment on Akonta Mining and the state of illegal mining in the country in general with a pinch of salt.
Signed
Michael Kwadwo Peprah
