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Don’t grant mining permit to Shanzi Mining Company – Gbane Mining Groups
Small-scale Mining Groups at the Gbane Community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region have appealed to the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mining and Inspectorate Division not to grant permit to Shanxi Mining Company Limited (SMCL) to go into large-scale mining in the area.
The Shanxi Mining Company Limited which was providing mining support service to Yenyaya Mining Group and Pubortaaba Mining Group are seeking permit to go into large-scale mining in the area where the small-scale miners are operating.
The small-scale mining groups, which include the Unique Mining Group and the Nalamtaaba Mining Group, made the call when a consultant engaged them about the interest expressed by the Shanxi Mining Company Limited to go into large-scale mining in the area.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nalamtaaba Mining Group, Mr Polo Boyark, who made the call on behalf of the small-scale mining groups on Saturday, after the engagement with the consultant, stated that until proper consultation and proper agreement were reached between the Shanxi Mining Company Limited and the small-scale mining groups, the mining regulatory bodies should not grant permit to SMCL to mine on their concessions.
According to the small-scale mining groups they had all acquired the necessary mining permits and therefore would not succumb to any powers that would want to circumvent the laws to allow the Shanxi Mining Company Limited to mine on their concessions without the proper engagement and agreement.
“We will not sit down and allow a foreign mining company to threaten our very livelihoods which we have been depending on for very long years. Unless the proper thing is done, by bringing all of us the small-scale mining groups to sit down and dialogue with the Shanxi Mining Company Limited.”
The group, who threatened that they would resist any attempt if their demand and interest were not met, called on the mining regulatory bodies to ensure that their request were followed before the consideration of granting the Shanxi Mining Company Limited to go into large scale mining.
The Shanxi Mining Company Limited entered into partnership with the Yenyaya Mining Group and Pubortaaba Mining Group who had legally acquired their concessions to provide mining support service to the two small-scale mining groups.
The Chief Executive Officer of Yenyaya Mining Group, Mr Charles Nadanbon was selected among small-scale mining groups by the government in 2008 to go to China and learn on sustainable mining activitiesthat persuaded and brought the Chinese Mining Company to Ghana, specifically the Gbane community.
The company has been providing mining support services to these small-scale mining groups until recently when the company expressed interest to go into large-scale mining, hence the consultant engaging the small-scale mining groups at Gbane.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
GTA staff in Cape Coast for refresher training programme
Staff of Ghana Tourism Authority are currently in Cape Coast in the Central Region for capacity building.
The staff members from the Ghana Tourism Authority’s departments of Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Research, Product Development, and Investment have convened in the Central Regional Capital for a refresher training programme.
Against this backdrop, the team took the opportunity to visit some of the city’s notable sites and attractions, including Cape Coast Castle.
This initiative is under the esteemed leadership of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, who prioritizes capacity building and equipping teams with adequate resources to achieve optimal results.
News
Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana discusses potential collaborations in the health sector
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. A. M. Youseef has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss potential collaborations in the health sector.
The Ambassador highlighted several proposals from the Egyptian government, including providing accommodation for physicians inside or close to the hospital building.
Additionally, H.E. Youseef expressed interest in bringing expert physicians and medical instruments on board but emphasized the need for the Ghanaian government to provide the necessary infrastructure.
The establishment of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana was also proposed, with the Ambassador noting that proposals had already been made to some businessmen.
However, the Ambassador mentioned that one of the challenges they face is the slow response time from the Ghanaian government.
Mr. Akandoh in response acknowledged this challenge and assured the Ambassador that the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is committed to the health sector.
Given the current pressure on the government to provide funds for the health sector, Mr.Akandoh suggested that the Egyptian government take up the project in its entirety, including the construction of infrastructure and equipment.
This, he explained, would be more feasible as the Ghanaian government is currently focused on completing old projects left by the previous administration.
Mr.Akandoh appreciated the Egyptian government’s interest in collaborating with Ghana on health projects and advised them to bring more companies on board to help complete the project, noting that, it is a vital area of healthcare that the government would like to see thrive.
