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FOAEJU-GH demands Upper East Minister’s resignation over allegations
Mining, Opinion

FOAEJU-GH demands Upper East Minister’s resignation over allegations

 Forum for Accountability and Equal Justice in Northern Ghana (FOAEJU-GH) a known civil society organization operating in the North, has humbly demanded the Upper East Regional Minister’s resignation or sack by the President of the Republic of Ghana. According to the group, resigning or sacking of the accused Regional Minister will pave way for a proper investigation to be conducted following the alleged allegation on abuse of office, abetment of crime, defrauding and false representation. However, the group has threatened that if the Regional Minister failed to comply, they will be hitting the streets in the coming weeks to further demand his resignation or dismissal. “We have been advised by our lawyers not to dwell on matters that have been filed before CHRAJ on abuse of office, abetment of crime, defrauding and false representation as alleged against the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu. We are of the opinion that the Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu alias Akurugu, should resign now or be sacked by the President of the Republic of Ghana to allow a proper investigation to take place. Failing to do so, we will hit the streets of the regional capital in the coming weeks to demand his resignation or dismissal. We want to state that our members cut across the political divide. So, we can assure you that you will see majority of NPP, NDC and others among the protesters when the day comes”. Forum for Accountability and Equal Justice in Northern Ghana in their press release also saw a press conference organized by one Azumah Atule and Robert Boazor Tampoare as a fiasco because “It is crystal-clear that all attempts to defend wrongdoing and to protect perpetrators to continue to rob people of their legal rights on small-scale mining concessions are indeed the works of his paymasters in political positions”. Read full statement below: FORUM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND EQUAL JUSTICE IN NORTHERN GHANA (FOAEJU-GH)                                                                                        Date……………………   PRESS STATEMENT RESPONSE TO SMALL-SCALE MINERS WHO HAVE SIGNED AND RELINQUISHED THEIR INTERESTS IN SMALL-SCALE MINING CONCESSIONS TO EARL INTERNATIONAL GROUP GHANA GOLD LIMITED IN A PRESS RELEASE DATED 23RD JANUARY, 2023. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen from the media, good afternoon. We the members of the Forum for Accountability and Equal Justice in Northern Ghana (FOAEJU-GH) drawn from all the municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region seek to draw the public attention to the predicament which some of our members from mining communities are facing notably the recent challenges in Talensi District, Gbane to be precise. It has come to our notice that one Azumah Atule, who is a member of a small-scale mining group and calls himself a zonal secretary to a Talensi small-scale mining association, signed a release to the subject matter of the day. It is crystal-clear that all attempts to defend wrongdoing and to protect perpetrators to continue to rob people of their legal rights on small-scale mining concessions are indeed the works of his paymasters in political positions. Ladies and gentlemen, we sincerely want to draw your attention to the background of the release signed by the relinquished person in the name of Azumah Atule. In the background of the press release on the said day, he stated a lot of meetings that ended inconclusively prior to the assumption of office as Upper East Regional Minister of Stephen Yakubu also known as Armstrong Akurugu. The fact remains that Azumah Atule and Robert Boazor Tampoare led an instigation that brought about the burning of some machines belonging to Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited, a support service company serving Yenyeya and Pubortaaba mines at the time and now known as Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited. Inset: A picture of one of the mining machines burned in 2011 through an upheaval led by Atule and Robert. It is also not true that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yenyeya Mining Company, Hon. Charles Taleog Ndanbon who is also the current Upper East Regional Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), was walked out because of any stupid action as alleged by Atule Azumah and his clique. The fact remains that he (Hon. Charles Taleog Ndanbon) lawfully protested against an action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) negotiating to give permit to Earl International (formerly known as Shaanxi) over his valid permit on the same concession which he deemed as illegal. Hon. Ndanbon had hired a lawyer to seek injunction on the issuance of the permit. This lawful protest caused one Mr Ransford Sekyi, an official of the EPA, to request that Hon. Ndanbon take leave of the meeting to speak to his lawyer about the injunction motion before he may rejoin the meeting. Hon. Ndanbon was not walked out from the meeting for any stupid action. Mr Sekyi is a gentleman and he will do no such thing to people. We rather deem it silly for anyone or any group to falsely state that an EPA boss walked someone out. Inset: EPA permits issued to Hon. Charles Taleog Ndanbon, Yenyeya Mining Enterprise’s CEO. It is also not true that Robert Boazor Tampoare and Azumah Atule are concession holders. They are known as members of small-scale mining groups and they (Robert and Atule) cannot hold themselves out as concession owners unlike Hon. Boyak Kolog Zongdan popularly known as Polo and Hon. Charles Taleog Ndanbon who individually have concessions of their own and are CEOs and are well known and respected for responsible mining operations. To set the records straight, it is clear that the authors of their press release were engineered by some political officeholders who are working hard to destroy the businesses of these two honourable and responsible miners, Hon. Boyak Kolog Zongdan popularly known as Polo and Hon. Charles Taleog Ndanbon. Ladies and gentlemen, it is sad to state that these defence witnesses (Robert and Atule) to the Upper East Regional Minister Hon. Stephen Yakubu alias Akurugu are trying to jump the gun by trying to defend the Regional Minister on

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Talensi: ‘BLACK WEDNESDAY’ solidifies by TAMCI to remember those who lost their lives in the mining jungle
Mining

Talensi: ‘BLACK WEDNESDAY’ solidifies by TAMCI to remember those who lost their lives in the mining jungle

Talensi Mining Communities Initiative (TAMCI)  formerly known as TEMCI a Civil Society Organization fighting for the interest of vulnerable miners in the Talensi District has marked every January 23 as a ‘BLACK DAY’ for the people of Talensi and Upper East Region at large.   This follows as a remembrance and an opportunity to mourn the death of the 16 illustrious youths of the area who lost their lives in the hustle field on the ugly day of January 23, 2019. To mark the day, every member of the organization was seen either wearing black or red which signifies a mourning dress code for persons believed to be entangled by a terrible tragedy. Reading with a painful heart, one of the leading members of TAMCI Albert Naa said, “It is with heavy hearts that we have gathered here to solemnly reflect and commemorate the death of the 16 industrious sons of our land who were gruesomely murdered exactly four years ago today. And also to remember all those who have died or have been maimed before and after that fateful incident in 2019, through the negligence of some mining companies in Talensi and to renew our demands and call for compensation for the families of the victims”. According to TAMCI, when gold was found in large quantities in Talensi, they drummed and danced out their heart with joy. they had high hopes that the free natural gift to them will bring employment, community development, peace and unity. They thought the livelihoods of their people will be improved. But, little did they know, that their youth was going to be sacrificed on the altar of foreign profiteering agenda with support from local turncoats. The group says, “…as we continue to call for justice in the form of compensation for the victims, we encourage mining companies both small and large scale to take Regulation 2012, (L.I. 2177) and (L.I. 2183) of the Minerals and Mining Act 703 (Act 2006) seriously in their operations. These regulations detail how explosives should be handled and used in mining, and the health and safety precautions that must be adhered to”. The group also believes that the Mineral Commission who are mandated to make sure there is transparency in every mining community not helping matters in the area “It is our belief that if the Minerals Commission had been proactive and not reactive in its regulatory mandate, we would not have lost 16 industrious sons in the manner in which we lost them. They would still be with us today breaking bread as we plan the future of our collective destinies together. And the hardships their wives, children, and other dependents are going through today would have been averted or reduced”. They stressed “The minerals commission’s investigation into the incident in 2019, found Shaanxi guilty of various counts and so fined them USD50,000.00 but failed to prescribe any compensation for the bereaved families”. “The surviving dependents of the victims are left on their own. They live in hopelessness and in penury since their only hope of survival were gruesomely taken away from them 4 years ago. For this cause, we have made several attempts to draw the attention of duty bearers to the error of not prescribing any compensation for the dependents of the 2019 victims. We have demonstrated, held press conferences educated community members, and engaged duty bearers. But all these have fallen on deaf ears. This indifference from relevant government officials and traditional authorities puts all of us at risk as it emboldens mining companies to go scot-free in their recklessness and creates the impression that, TALENSI LIVES DON’T MATTER. “As we have always done, we will continue to observe this Black Wednesday event every year and use the event to remind duty bearers of their sworn duties to protect the interest of Ghana and its people. That all are equal in the eyes of the law and also to hold mining companies accountable for their actions. We know the road will be muddy and rough but we will get there. Heaven knows how”. They noted Meanwhile, some of the family victims present at the commemoration event shared some of their painful experiences as they called on the government and authorities responsible to come to their aid. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on +233256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Asante Gold strikes ‘significant’ gold in South Russel, Aboduabo near-mine exploration programme
Mining

Asante Gold strikes ‘significant’ gold in South Russel, Aboduabo near-mine exploration programme

Asante Gold Corporation has announced results from its ongoing exploration drilling programme at the South Russel and Aboduabo prospects located on its Bibiani-Chirano mines corridor on the Sefwi Greenstone Belt in Ghana. The Sefwi Greenstone Belt is host to significant gold mining operations including the Bibiani and Chiranomines which have produced +8Moz to date. Asante controls 53 km strike length of the corridor which includes the Bibiani and Chirano shear zones, where gold mineralization is typically hosted in shear faults and veins. The Company’s Bibiani and Chirano gold mines have current mineral reserves of ~ 2.8Moz and Measured and Indicated resources of over 4.5Moz. The immediate exploration focus for Asante is to “aggressively explore our proven mineralised trends to discover new mineable deposits and grow our mine and near mine resources and mine life”, a statement said. South Russel Prospect The Company previously outlined the strike length of gold mineralization at South Russel as 200m, in its press release of August 17, 2022. New drilling results have now extended it to 500m. Drill intercepts confirm high-grade mineralization from surface, consistent in width and grade to previous intercepts. The gold mineralised system remains open along strike and to depth. The South Russell prospect is located just 2 km south of the Bibiani Process Plant. Highlights • Recent drill intercepts include 21.5m downhole grading 3.37 g/t Au; of which 13.5m grades 5.05 g/t • Footprint of gold mineralization now tested and confirmed amounts to approximately 500m strike length and remains open along strike and to depth • Assay results continue to confirm significant intercepts from surface • All drill results are outside of the current mine plan mineral resource • Follow-up drill holes are planned to the south and north along strike of the recent intercepts • Selected intercepts include: • MGDD22-194 – 21.5m @ 3.37 g/t Au from 22.0m to 43.5m o Includes 13.5m @ 5.05 g/t Au from 24m to 37.5m • MGDD22-182 – 14m @ 4.49 g/t Au from 216m to 230m o Includes 12m @ 5.20 g/t Au from 218m to 230m • MGRCD22-066 – 11.9m @ 3.22 g/t Au from 174.1m to 186m o Includes 4m @ 7.53 g/t Au from 180m to 184m • MGRCD22-164 – 8m @ 3.36 g/t Au from 195m to 203m • MGDD22-105 – 7m @ 3.26 g/t Au from 171m to 178m • MGDD22-119- 5m @ 3.62 g/t Au from 177m to 182m • MGDD22-103 – 10m @ 1.86 g/t Au from 181m to 191m Aboduabo Prospect The Aboduabo prospect is located approximately 5km north of the Chirano Process Plant and 10 km south of the Bibiani Process Plant. It lies within the Bibiani trend, is hosted in Birimian sedimentary rock sequences, and is different in style compared to the Chirano gold deposits which are hosted in Birimian volcanic and granitoid sequences along the sub parallel Chirano trend. The historical exploration of the Aboduabo project comprised of 54 holes that delineated a mineralised strike of 1.3km and 500 meters wide. Significant gold assays. at shallow depth from surface, were noted in previous drilling programs. Some of the historical drill results include: Highlights • 24m down grading hole 4.31 g/t Au • 25m down hole grading 2.95 g/t Au • 23m down hole grading 2.65 g/t Au • 23m down hole grading 2.41 g/t Au • 32m down hole grading 2.17 g/t Au from CHRC1054 CHRC798D CHRC723 CHRC720 and CHCH009A, respectively. Exploration activities at Aboduabo were initiated “immediately after our recent acquisition of Chirano, with drill results acquired to date confirming that the mineralised system at Aboduabo is open for extension at depth and along strike”. Drill results from the first hole of the current programme have intersected 21.5m @ 2.99 g/t Au including 11.35m @ 4.73 g/t Au. The current drilling programme was initiated in September 2022 and has been accelerated as Asante intends to prepare a maiden resource by Q4 2023 and, if warranted a starter pit soon thereafter. Current Drill Highlights • CHDD3339 – 21.5m @ 2.99 g/t Au o Includes 11.35m @ 4.73 g/t Au • CHDD3341 – 22.0m @ 1.31 g/t Au o Includes 12.0m @ 1.72 g/t Au • CHRC3343D – 4.05m @ 5.56 g/t Au • CHDD3344 – 17.6m @ 1.2 g/t Au • CHDD3345 – 9m @ 2.93 g/t Au • Assay results continue to confirm significant intercepts near surface • All drill results are not included in the current mine mineral resource • Follow-up drill holes are planned to test depth extensions of the recent intercepts Dave Anthony, President, and CEO stated: “We are pleased to report the assay results from our exploration drilling program at South Russel and Aboduabo where drilling to advance the two targets to resource stage is continuing. Strike length of South Russel mineralisation has been extended from 200m to 500m supporting our view that the 53 km long Bibiani – Chirano gold corridor is very prospective for discovery of new resources and remains key to the organic growth of the two mines”. Asante plans to initiate a Feasibility Study after the maiden resource has been prepared, to consider development of a starter pit. We anticipate a starter pit will be initiated in Q4 2023. Exploration activities at both mines have achieved significant success over the past 12 months. Drilling at the Walsh satellite pit at Bibiani increased reserves currently being mined from about 20,000 ounces to over 100,000 ounces. Brownfields exploration drilling completed in 2022 proximal to the existing pits at Chirano have also delivered positive results, in line with our intention to replace reserves currently being mined at Chirano. We remain on track at both mines, to complete exploration drilling to extend Life of Mine to +10 years.” —classfm—

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I have not recruited or hired Upper East Regional Minister to negotiate on my behalf— MD YENYEYA Mining Group
Mining

I have not recruited or hired Upper East Regional Minister to negotiate on my behalf— MD YENYEYA Mining Group

Hon. Charles Taleog Ndabon, the Managing Director of YENYEYA Mining Group, a Talensi-based indigenous mining company licensed in 2007 and registered under the Companies Act 1963 has revealed in a press statement sighted by Apexnewsgh.com that, he has not surrendered his mining license to Wei Xing, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SHAANXI MINING LIMITED and now EARL INTERNATIONAL GROUP GHANA GOLD LIMITED, because he sees no reason or sense in performing such a ridiculous act as a businessman. The statement further reveals that personalities pretending to have been acting on his behalf by way of negotiation or signing of any document should desist from such act because, he has not recruited anyone to do so on his behalf “Let me also make it clear to the general public and mining stakeholders that, YENYEYA has not recruited or hired anyone and not even the Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu to negotiate any form of business or sign any form of agreement on my behalf together with Wei Xing, CEO of SHAANXI now so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL”. The state said Mr. Ndanbon strongly reaffirmed that he is determined and very committed to fighting for his right and will not allow any CEO of the Mineral Commission or any traditional ruler to conspire with the Chinese man Wei Xing CEO of SHAANXI now so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL to forcefully snatch away my business. Kindly read the full statement: PRESS STATEMENT Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Being silent is a great way to let people know they did something wrong and it will be unfortunate for people to take my silence over their crokard activities against me and my company as a weakness. The management of YENYEYA Mining Group, a Talensi-based indigenous mining company licensed in 2007 and registered under the Companies Act 1963, found it necessary to provide a few updates to all stakeholders in the mining sector in the Upper East Region and the general public interested in the matters arising. That, for the past 25 years now, mining has been my business, and i was already in the mining business before bringing Wei Xing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SHAANXI MINING LIMITED and now the so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL GROUP GHANA GOLD LIMITED from China in 2008 to come and render mining support service to my outfit YENYEYA. Important things to note: I want to state it clear to the general public and mining stakeholders that, YENYEYA together with Wei Xing, CEO of SHAANXI now the so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL had the earlier agreement in 2008 under the small scale. However, in 2017 when SHAANXI now the so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL wanted to expand to a large scale we together had another addendum and agreement which is still authentic. I want the general public to know that, YENYEYA has not surrendered his mining license to Wei Xing, the CEO of SHAANXI now so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL, because i see no reason or sense in performing such a ridiculous act. YENYEYA was not part of any small-scale miners association that has signed an agreement with Wei Xing, the CEO of SHAANXI now the so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL. Let me also make it clear to the general public and mining stakeholders that, YENYEYA has not recruited or hired anyone and not even the Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu to negotiate any form of business or sign any form of agreement on my behalf together with Wei Xing, CEO of SHAANXI now so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL. YENYEYA is very committed to fighting for his right and will not allow any CEO of the Mineral Commission or any traditional ruler to conspire with the Chinese man Wei Xing CEO of SHAANXI now so-called EARL INTERNATIONAL to forcefully snatch away my business. Thank you Signed Hon. Charles Taleog NdanbonMD YENYEYA Mining Group Contact: 024 039 1728 Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Unique Mining Group suspends Robert Boazor as a member.
Mining, Opinion

Unique Mining Group suspends Robert Boazor as a member.

It appears the misunderstanding between the Unique Mining Group and one Robert Boazor is not getting any better, as members of the group have unanimously suspended him from the group till police concludes investigation. The group’s acting Chairman Mr. Abdulai Amaligo confirmed the letter to Apexnewsgh.com However, when this portal extended a call to Mr. Robert Boazor for his response he said, “I don’t want to be talking about the letter with anybody. Those who gave you the letter, you should deal with them” He stated Mr. Robert Boazor has been allegedly accused of some fraudulent actions against members of Unique Mining Group which according to the letter is under investigation. Read the full letter below: “We the members of Unique Mining Group, having considered some accusation of fraudulent actions leveled against you, and the matter having been reported to the police for investigation, all agree to sanction you by suspending you according to the provisions of our constitution. Your alleged actions contravene the provision of our constitution section 10(a,b and c), hence the decision to suspend you. The decision to suspend you was taken during a general meeting that also saw Mr. Abdulai Amaligo elected as the new acting Chairman of the Unique Mining Group. You are hereby suspended until the police conclude the matter. You are directed to hand over all properties including documents belonging to the group in your possession to the acting Chairman with immediate effect”. Meanwhile, the letter was copied to the Regional Police Commander and Mineral Commission, Regional Minister, and District Chief Executive. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/GhanaFor publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Mining: Disclosed the amount you took on our behalf within 7 days– Unique Mining Group to Upper East Reg. Minister
Mining, Opinion

Mining: Disclosed the amount you took on our behalf within 7 days– Unique Mining Group to Upper East Reg. Minister

Unique Mining Group, one of the Small Scale Mining Group operating in the Gbene community of the Talensi District in the Upper East Region has requested the Upper East Regional Minister to disclose the money he received from Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited on behalf of Unique Mining Group. A letter written by the leadership of the Unique Mining Group and directed to the Upper East Regional Minister Mr. Stephen Yakubu which was sighted by Apexnewsgh.com with a reference number UN/Ma/01 dated December 29, 2022, and signed by the acting Chairman of the group Mr. Abdulai Amaligo says, “the request has become necessary because we are not sure of the total amount either by cheque or cash paid through the UERCC for onward delivery to our group (Unique Mining Group)”. The leadership of the group who are not satisfied with happenings regarding their share of money paid by Earl International also demands for more and better particulars. “We also wish to request for the dates of payments and the currency used for the payments”. they further requested We respectfully expect you to address our request within seven (7) working days from the day of receipt of this letter for us to decide the next line of action. The letter said. Meanwhile, during my earlier conversation with the Regional Minister December 8, 2022 on the same Unique Mining Group issue, the Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu, did not deny receiving the money from Earl International on behalf of the small-scale miners, he said his intervention through the RCC was to make sure peace returned at the mining area. But responding to why the disputed money was paid to an individual instead of a group, Mr. Yakubu said, the name of the individual was given to him by the Mineral Commission as the leader of the Unique Mining Group. Perhaps, on this current development, numerous efforts made by the platform through phone calls and messages in both WhatsApp and SmS to get the Regional Minister’s response to the said letter were not successful. More to come… Source: Apexnewsgh.com/GhanaFor publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Talensi: DCE promises to revisit issues of unpaid compensation to families of 16 dead miners
Mining, Opinion

Talensi: DCE promises to revisit issues of unpaid compensation to families of 16 dead miners

The Talensi District Chief Executive (DCE) Thomas Duanab Wuni has promised to revisit issues surrounding the unpaid compensation to the families of 16 dead miners. Apexnewsgh.com report On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, some young youth numbering 16 from the Talensi community in the Upper East Region met their untimely death whereas others numbering over 15 went unconscious and was rushed to the hospital and after few days of going through a thorough medical treatment with the assistance of the Health workers at the Regional Hospital, Only a few recovered from the explosion. The majority of these lost lives were noted by friends, family, and community members as breadwinners, this simply means, these individuals carry their family responsibilities on their heads all alone, and they are the only source of happiness for their dependents. Is over 5 years down the lane since after the tragic incident occurred but, the question begging for answers is, what has been the situation for the families of these known breadwinners who regrettably lost their lives as a result of the negligence of a mining company and an individual according to the Mineral Commission Reports? Apexnewsgh.com investigation reveals, that no compensation has been awarded to any of the family members from both the company Shaanxi Mining Company now Earl International and Kwasi Bantama. Currently, as we published this article, we can confidently report that some parents of these dead victims have also died as a result of hardship and struggles of life and some of these dependents are still going through difficult conditions as at now. Sadly, it appears those whose negligence put these families in their current predicaments care less about their human rights and welfare. However, engaging the Talensi District Chief Executive Mr. Thomas Duanab Wuni on the said issue regarding the family’s compensation, he said in his handing over, he hasn’t chanced any issue regarding compensation of families of the 16 dead youths. He promised to revisit in January 2023. “I have been in this office for one year and two months and in my handing over notes, I haven’t chanced any issue regarding what you are telling me. So, is difficult for me to speak to that subject. But all the same, from January when we come back from the holidays, I will take a kin interest and I will revisit what you are telling me and I would make further enquiries to see what the issue is. I hear a lot of you the press guys talking about it but, we in the Assembly here, because it wasn’t included in my handing over note, I find it difficult speaking about it. Because as I took over, there was no indication that I had an issue to follow up. But, if that is the situation, is never too late. I can always go back and look at it. So, from January 2023, I will revisit it and see what the situation is and then, we will take it from there”. The DCE told Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stepehn of Apexnewsgh.com Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Earl International Group (GH) Gold LTD to pay US$ 273,000.00 for non-compliance with Environmental Permit conditions
Mining

Earl International Group (GH) Gold LTD to pay US$ 273,000.00 for non-compliance with Environmental Permit conditions

“Begin the construction of a designed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) before the date of expiry of the TSF permit issued to the company. The construction must be done in line with the standard requirement and procedures as spelt out in the condition of the TSF Permit issued by the Agency”. Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited a large-scale mining Company operating in Gbane a community in the Talensi District of the Upper East is in trouble again this time for non-compliance with EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. The Company has been tasked by EPA to pay an amount of Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand United State Dollars (US$ 273,000.00) or its Cedi equivalent using daily selling interbank exchange rate as administrative charges for non-compliance of Environmental Permit conditions within one month from the date of the letter in line with the Fees and Charges (Amendment) Instrument, 2019 (LI 2386). Apexnewsgh.com report “Notify the Agency of the commencement of the TSF construction where a third party shall be jointly chosen by both the Agency and the company to be present throughout the entire duration of the construction stages of the designed TSF.Notify the Agency after the construction of the TSF is completed, for the Agency to carry out a thorough inspection before any material can be pumped into the facility”.“Cease the construction of any further illegal temporal tailing’s storage facility/facilities”. “Post the long overdue Reclamation Bond as security for the decommissioning and rehabilitation of disturbed areas associated with your company’s Underground Mining and Processing Project In line with Regulation 23 of the Environmental Assessment Regulation, 1999 (LI 1652). The quantum of the Bond to be posted for the Underground Mining and Processing Project is Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand and Ninety-Eight United State Dollars (US$658,098.00) as presented in the approved Environmental Impact statement of November 2020 in an Escrow Account between your company and the Agency. Twenty percent (20%) of this Bond amounting to One Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty United State Dollars (US$ 131, 620) shall be paid in cash and the remaining eighty percent (80%), in Bank Guarantee.Consistently submit without fail Monthly Environmental Monitoring Returns to the Agency taking cognizance of the Akoben Criteria of Compliance, Surveillance and Control sampling points for water, air and noise. “Desist from the discharge of any water from within the enclosed premises of your operation to the external environment without prior approval from the Agency”. “Immediately begin the processes of acquiring environmental permits for all other ancillary facilities/infrastructure of your operations which are not covered by the previously issued environmental permits”. “Submit a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for your operation to the Agency. These were captured in the EPA’s sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited dated 29th November 2022 which was intercepted by Apexnewsgh.com. The letter says, “In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 490, 1994 and the Environmental Assessment Regulations Legislative Instrument, 1999 LI 1652, the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a compliance monitoring of your operations on the 11th and 15th of November 2022 at Gbane in the Talensi District”. “While the Agency was satisfied with some aspects of your Company’s compliance to conditions of the Environmental Permits (Underground Mining & Processing and Tailings Storage Facility- TSF) issued to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane, the Agency was grossly dissatisfied with several other occasions of non-compliance to EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. Chief among them were the non-posting of Reclamation Bonds for Underground Mining and Processing and TSF, six (6) months after the issuance of EPA permits, and the illegal construction of unapproved and sub-standard temporal tailings storage facilities without the Agency’s notice, among others”. The letter pointed However, the intercepted EPA sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited further cautioned the Company to comply. “As a result, the Agency is requesting Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane to strictly and immediately comply with the following conditions as outlined in the attachment labeled Attachment A. Failure to comply with all the conditions in Attachment A, will result in an immediate and outright suspension of operations. EPA Cautioned Meanwhile, the letter signed by the EPA Regional Director for the Executive Director was copied to the Upper East Regional Minister, the Talensi District Chief Executive, The EPA Executive Director, Director, Mining Department EPA-Accra and EPA Legal Officer, Northern Zone, Kumasi. More to come soon Source: Apexnewsgh.com/GhanaFor publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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“It is unacceptable that the RCC takes direct responsibility from a private large-scale mining company—TAMCI
Mining

“It is unacceptable that the RCC takes direct responsibility from a private large-scale mining company—TAMCI

The statement said: “It is unacceptable that the RCC takes direct responsibility from a private large-scale mining company, Earl International, by paying compensation on its behalf”. “This raises serious concerns about conflict of interest. The RCC represents the State; so, being in charge of Earl International’s disbursement of cash compensation is alarming”. This is according to a press conference held in Bolgatanga by Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI). Apexnewsgh.com report TAMCI, a Civil Society Organisation operating in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, with support from Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) has said, they are reliably informed that funds released by Earl International for the compensation exercise of Small Scale Miners were lodged in one of the RCC accounts for onward disbursement to the concessionaires and that was organized in a take-or-leave manner under the supervision of the Upper East Regional Minister. However, some members of the Unique Mining Company who were present at the press conference also narrated how an amount of USD 150, 000.00 meant to compensate them for trespasses by Shaanxi (Earl International) into their concession was fraudulently paid to one Robert Boazor Tampoare by the Regional Minister. “As we speak now some aggrieved members of the Unique Mining Company have petitioned the Economic and Organized Crime Office – EOCO about how USD 150,000.00 meant to compensate them for trespasses by Shaanxi (Earl International) into their concession was fraudulently paid to Robert Boazor Tampoare by the Regional Minister”. Meanwhile, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted Robert Boazor Tampoare for his side of the story, he said: “Those who are talking about it, the convener and what and what, whatever they know about it, they should have their time to go about it. Me, I have nothing to say about anything, whatever they know about it and how they understand it, is up to them. So, they should about what they want to do. He hanged up. The Regional Minister said he intervened because, by the time he assumed office as the Upper East Regional Minister, they were already some existing problems that needs to be resolved between the small-scale miners and Earl International. However, responding to the claim by some group members of Unique Mining Company and Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) on the role he played by giving an amount of USD 150,000.00 meant for a company to an individual, the Minister said, when he met with the group for a meeting, some of the issues raised by Robert Tampore was that, the other aggrieved members were not contributing to the company. Adding that, “Indeed, if you have a partner and he has not even contributed at all, you should let him know what is going on and that was how we felt at the meeting and we thought that whatever it is, they should have sat down and discussed it. But you see, when they took the first Ghc 150,000 and they shared no one heard anything about it and we are talking about a year and a half going to two years”. The Minister told Apexnewsgh.com. Read the full statement below: PRESS CONFERENCE BYTALENSI MINING COMMUNITIES’ INITIATIVE (TAMCI)8TH DECEMBER, 2022.WE SHALL OVERCOME! VENCEREMOSINTRODUCTION Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media, members of civil society organizations present and all interested parties, we wish to welcome all of you to this very important press conference. We are very grateful to you for keeping faith with us from day one to date. It’s been a journey of lessons and reflections. We set out to fight for the development of our community. As the saying goes, the enemy is always within. We have been called names, dragged to court, physically assaulted, betrayed and remanded in police custody all in a vicious and desperate attempt to silence the only voice that thunders hope and advocates for development in Talensi. But the good Lord continues to hold our right hand so we will remain resolute in our convictions, steadfast in our forward match and bold in our approach. THE GENESISWe wish to bring to your attention that gold mining in Talenteng― particularly by Shaanxi now known as Earl International Group, Cardinal, and their partners ― has brought us hell. It saddens our hearts that in Talensi, these mining companies fail to comply with relevant laws and regulations of the Mining & Minerals Act 2006 (Act 703) on compensation, resettlement, safety, local content etc. to the disadvantage of the citizens whose gold is being stolen to enrich foreign lands. It also saddens us to note that Earl International and Cardinal Resources do not respect and adhere to the laws of this country because they have help from local traditional and political authorities. The reckless mining practices introduced by Shaanxi in our area has caused many tragedies which has claimed many lives. One such tragedy was when we lost 16 young and energetic men through one of their planned executions and recklessness. Earl International also recruits supervisors who are Chinese and who cannot communicate to any team in operation in the language members of the teams understand, which is a breach of Regulation 508 of LI 2182. This deadly lapse was revealed in a Minerals Commission report as one of the reasons the 16 young men died in 2019 in Talensi. We are sure that as you take a keen interest in listening to us, you will be shocked as we reveal the development of our predicament to you. THE BLOOD OF THE 16 WHO WERE MURDERED IN EARL INTERNATIONAL MINE IN 2019 IS CRYING FOR JUSTICE – TALENSI LIVES MATTER Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men they murdered in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called

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Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) demands justice for the families of 16 dead miners
Mining

Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) demands justice for the families of 16 dead miners

Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) a Civil Society Organisation operating in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, with the support from Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) has organized a press conference demanding the compensation for families of the 16 young men who lost their lives as a result of the negligence caused by the Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited now EARL International Group (Ghana) Gold Limited. Apexnewsgh.com report The statement which was read by the TAMCI Secretary Mr. Laamdolba Bright says: “We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called chlorine to kill the 16 young men intentionally”. The group also revealed that Kwesi Bantama has since not also compensated the families of the 16 who were killed by Shaanxi while working for him in 2019. Meanwhile, the group has hinted that Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men who lost their lives in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. Read the full statement below PRESS CONFERENCE BYTALENSI MINING COMMUNITIES’ INITIATIVE (TAMCI)8TH DECEMBER, 2022.WE SHALL OVERCOME! VENCEREMOSINTRODUCTION Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media, members of civil society organizations present and all interested parties, we wish to welcome all of you to this very important press conference. We are very grateful to you for keeping faith with us from day one to date. It’s been a journey of lessons and reflections. We set out to fight for the development of our community. As the saying goes, the enemy is always within. We have been called names, dragged to court, physically assaulted, betrayed and remanded in police custody all in a vicious and desperate attempt to silence the only voice that thunders hope and advocates for development in Talensi. But the good Lord continues to hold our right hand so we will remain resolute in our convictions, steadfast in our forward match and bold in our approach. THE GENESISWe wish to bring to your attention that gold mining in Talenteng― particularly by Shaanxi now known as Earl International Group, Cardinal and their partners ― has brought us hell. It saddens our hearts that in Talensi, these mining companies fail to comply with relevant laws and regulations of the Mining & Minerals Act 2006 (Act 703) on compensation, resettlement, safety, local content etc. to the disadvantage of the citizens whose gold is being stollen to enrich foreign lands. It also saddens us to note that Earl International and Cardinal Resources do not respect and adhere to the laws of this country because they have help from local traditional and political authorities. The reckless mining practices introduced by Shaanxi in our area have caused many tragedies which have claimed many lives. One such tragedy was when we lost 16 young and energetic men through one of their planned executions and recklessness. Earl International also recruits supervisors who are Chinese and who cannot communicate to any team in operation in the language members of the teams understand, which is a breach of Regulation 508 of LI 2182. This deadly lapse was revealed in a Minerals Commission report as one of the reasons the 16 young men died in 2019 in Talensi. We are sure that as you take a keen interest in listening to us, you will be shocked as we reveal the development of our predicament to you. THE BLOOD OF THE 16 WHO WERE MURDERED IN EARL INTERNATIONAL MINE IN 2019 IS CRYING FOR JUSTICE – TALENSI LIVES MATTER Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men they murdered in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called chlorine to kill the 16 young men intentionally.Also, the allegation that the young men were killed in a Shaanxi mine was deliberately concocted to brand them as thieves and hence deny their families any compensation due them. Kwesi Bantama has since not also compensated the families of the 16 who were killed by Shaanxi while working for him in 2019. In just a short while, we will rise on him too. Justice must be served and we will ensure it. We hope the elite and the traditional authorities will work for the benefit of their constituents. After all they are there to protect and represent the people.At this point, we want to observe a minute silence for Miner Paul Agbango who died through electrocution at the Earl International Group mine in Talensi some days ago. LANDS & NATURAL RESOURCE MINISTRY, EPA AND MINERALS COMMISSION, THE SOURCE OF THE WOES OF GOLD MINING IN TALENSI. The Minerals Commission in the Upper East Region is not doing enough as far as their mandate to supervise and ensure that large scale mining companies adheres to the rules and regulations of Ghana as far as license acquisition, mining boundary dispute resolution, safety and precautionary measures among others are concerned. Some of the licences issued by the the Land & Natural Resource Ministry are also stained with irregularities. When the minerals commission recommended the issuance of the Earl International Gold Group large scale licence in 2019, Yenyeya, Unique and Pubortaaba and co mining licences were all active and are still active. Earlier that year Shaanxi through its recklessness and planned execution of the cream of our society (our youth) had killed sixteen young men and left their families destitute and hopeless but the Minerals Commission did not care. The environmental protection agency also granted EPA permit to Earl international group when Yenyeya, Unique, Pubortaaba and co. permits were still active.

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