The Gwira Traditional Council has petitioned the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to probe activities of Okobeng Mining Company Limited and uphold its decision to ban the company from undertaking mining activities in their area.
A three-member delegation from the traditional council on Wednesday, February 1, 2022 called on the Ministry where they lamented the impact of alleged illegal mining activities of Okobeng Mining Company in the area.
According to the leader of the delegation Nana Ette Akrade II, the affected communities have resolved to ban Okobeng Mining from undertaking any activities in their areas and need the approval from the Ministry and Mineral Commission to enforce their decision.
The chiefs declared their support for government’s illegal mining fight and expressed their readiness to collaborate with relevant agencies to stamp out the menace in the area.
They asserted that a number of companies are undertaking mining operations without the required license and that the chiefs have made moves to stop them but will need backing from the Ministry.
Aside the illegal mining activities, the chiefs have also observed that the owner of Okobeng Mining Company and his cohorts have been carrying out activities which have security implications with the potential of degenerating into a full-scale crisis if preventive measures are not expeditiously instituted.
They are concerned that the situation could degenerate into full-scale security crisis in the area if preventive measures are not expeditiously implemented.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker on behalf of the sector Minister assured that the ministry through the Minerals Commission and allied agencies will probe the concerns by the Chiefs and take necessary actions to curb the situation.
He promised the sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor will be briefed on issues raised and that drastic measures will be put into action to address the issues.
Hon. Duker also appealed to the Gwira Traditional Council to petition the Ghana Police Service and Interior Ministry to take up the matter and restore calm in the area.
“I promise to follow up the issues and investigate them. The situation with Okobeng is a major concern for everyone in the country. There have been shooting incidents, among other things so I’m glad you are now taking action against Okobeng. Ghanaians must be concerned with what is going on with Okobeng.
“I also believe that you must inform the IGP and Interior Minister about the situation for the necessary measures to be taking. Just as you petitioned us, kindly petition the Ghana Police Service and Interior. We’ll investigate the issues relative to the licenses but the security issues are to be directed to the police so I will beg of you to petition them,” Hon. Mireku Duker appealed to the Chiefs.
