The Chiefs , and people of Ahafo Nkaseim in the Asutifi south district of the Ahafo region have made a passionate appeal to the management of NEWMONT Gold Ghana Limited to seed off an area of NEWMONT Gold legally acquired mining concession for the youth to operate a Responsible Small Scale Community Mining project .
A delegation of chiefs, opinion leaders and concerned youth of Ahafo Nkaseim met with the management of NEWMONT Gold and the deputy Lands and Natural Resources minister in charge of mining on Thursday 29th March, 2024 at the conference room of the ministry to discuss the possible ways management of NEWMONT Gold would agree and offer part of their concessions to the community to mine.
The District chief executive for Asutifi south, Robert Dwomoh Mensah was worried about the huge sums of money that the assembly has been spending on the fight against illegal mining
He noted that small scale mining activities have been happening in the Asutifi south area for years and that restraining the people from undertaking such activities as their source of employment makes life difficult in the area
Hon Dwomoh Mensah further stressed that the decision by NEWMONT Gold management to deny the request of the chiefs and people of Nkaseim would go a long way to affect its operations.
The Asutifi south district chief executive indicated that though the management of NEWMONT Gold has assisted Ahafo Nkaseim through their corporate social responsibilities, there is a need for them to consider the request made by his traditional rulers and the concerned youth to offer them the opportunity to mine responsibly.
On his part, Newmont Legal Director, Robert Agbozo hinted that the company has spent huge sums of money to develop the mines and that it is in plan of operation
Robert Agbozo further disclosed that as owners of the prospecting license in the area of interest of Nkaseim community it would be very difficult for the management of NEWMONT Gold to seed off the area for any individual or group to carry out any mining activities since the prospecting license is in the name of NEWMONT Gold.
He said though they have understand Nkaseim traditional rulers about their request it cannot work out.
Nana Yentumi Boateng , Dabenhene of Nkaseim and Krapoo – Mbaapehia Odikro who represented the Nkaseim Hene also an Obrempong to the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II recounted the numerous developmental support and other gestures offered by the management of NEWMONT Gold to Nkaseim and their operational areas saying indeed NEWMONT Gold has done very well but he is by this making an appeal to consider the request made by the Chiefs, Opinion leaders and the concerned youth to grant them the opportunity to mine because the major source of employment within the Ahafo area is mining.
Nana Yentumi Boateng further disclosed that failure for the management of NEWMONT Gold to grant the request of the chiefs and people of Ahafo Nkaseim will affect the future of the people especially the energetic youth who have resorted to mining over the years.
He hoped that management of NEWMONT Gold to will reconsider their decision of not ready to seed off part of the concession for Responsible Small Scale Community Mining.
A deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mining, Honourable George Mireku Duker also appealed to the management of NEWMONT Gold to support the chiefs and the concerned youth of Ahafo Nkaseim with a concession to operate a very Responsible Small Scale Community Mining to support the youth cater for their families.
Hon Mireku Duker who is also the member of parliament for Tarkwa – Nsuaem constituency in the western region hinted that small scale mining sector engages over (1) million people in the country than the large scale mining so government is more concerned about the need for supporting and encouraging the youth to engage into Responsible Small Scale Community Mining which has come to stay and benefiting many in the small scale mining sector.
Hon George Mireku Duker further disclosed that in South Africa its own people owns the mining firms and the income derived from the mining activities remains in the country.
It was revealed during the meeting that the area of mining interest of the Nkaseim youth, NEWMONT Gold acquired a prospecting license in the year 2019 but the mining giant company still holds a prospecting license on it awaiting from the Minerals Commission to grant them a mining lease.
The deputy Lands and Natural Resources minister in charge of mining commended the chiefs, opinion leaders, and the youth of Nkaseim for leaving with the management and workers of NEWMONT Gold over the years and urged them to continue as such even though their request to mine on their legally acquired concession has not been granted.
