President will not countenance interference in the galamsey fight—Lands Minister
Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has rejected that suggest President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is meddling in the fight against illegal mining, insisting it would be outrageous for him to do that. “The President will not countenance interference in the galamsey fight,” The Lands Minister stressed. Mr. Jinapor said that in an interview with the media at the National Youth Conference on natural resources and environmental governance in regard to a 37-page report compiled by Professor Kwabena-Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), which he presented to the Chief of Staff on March 19, 2021. According to the Minister, it is not in his place to pass judgment on his predecessors’ work in combating galamsey issues. “I have no moral right to pass judgment on my predecessors. The good people of Ghana are in a better position to judge and all stakeholders… I don’t want to be drawn into this”. However, Mr. Jinapor denied having knowledge of any involvement of Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Information Minister, in galamsey, describing him as a “decent gentleman who has been discharging his duties with candor.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Full statement: NDC MoT Presser on Gold Mafia and Galamsey Report
A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ., NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS. 25th April, 2023 SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND PARLIAMENT MUST PROBE FRIMPONG BOATENG’S “GALAMSEY” REPORT AND ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING INVOLVING PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO IN THE LATEST “GOLD MAFIA” UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION BY AL JAZEERA. AL JAZEERA’S GOLD MAFIA INVESTIGATION Good morning to you, our media partners here present, in the sixteen regions of Ghana and across the world. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sighted an undercover investigative work that was recently broadcast by international news network, Al Jazeera. The said documentary forms part of a fourpart investigation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit), which uncovered an international Gold Smuggling mafia and Money Laundering racket operating in various parts of Africa. Friends from the media, of particular concern to us and indeed, the people of Ghana, is the reference to a relationship between the deadly racket and the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other high-ranking officials of the ruling NPP government. In the One-hour, thirteen-minute video documentary, one Alistair Mathias who has gained notoriety for designing money laundering schemes for corrupt African Leaders, could be seen boasting about his close relationship with President Akufo-Addo and other high-profile African leaders. In the particular portion of this new investigative documentary that has got many tongues wagging, the said Alistair Mathias who is described as a Canadian citizen and a financial architect operating a gold smuggling syndicate in Ghana called Guldrest, confided in Al Jazeera undercover reporters who posed as Chinese Businessmen, about his constant dealings with President Akufo-Addo. Some of the underhand dealings this shady character revealed include how the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government for instance can award his company, Mathias Holdings an inflated contract worth $100 million, which he in turn subcontracts to another company for a value of about $80 million, thereby making a staggering profit of $20 million on the contract. Friends from the media, the mastermind of these crimes further revealed how the padded amount on such deals is then shared among the parties – corrupt officials in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government on the one hand, and Mathias Holdings on the other hand. Under this criminal scheme, Mathias further undertakes to bank the share of his corrupt collaborators in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government in offshore accounts until such a time that the money is needed by them. This is how grand corruption is created by elements in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, who inflate contracts and then deposit the stolen funds in the form of “commissions” with this devious individual whose operations span across other African countries. And by the way, commissions in this gold smuggling, money laundering and illicit business context simply means bribe. As if the above dealings were not scandalous enough, we further gleaned from the documentary how supply and procurement contracts are awarded to this knavish partner of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Presidency, who constantly returns kickbacks from these inflated contracts through their elaborate corrupt network at the expense of value for money and the good people of Ghana. Ladies and gentlemen, the nefarious Alistair Mathias further confessed to how he manages to smuggle one ton of gold with a face value of $40 million from Ghana, every month, with the active collusion of high-ups in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government and in collaboration with one Kamlesh Pattni, an Indian man domiciled in Kenya, who is described as the grandmaster of the Gold Mafia. This development, my fellow countrymen and women, adds to a litany of similar acts of grand corruption and collusion involving President Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and other high-ranking NPP government officials. Ghanaians have not forgotten about the Number #12 documentary by ace Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in which former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi was nabbed in similar fashion negotiating kickbacks from supposed investors for President Akufo-Addo and other government officials. Again, and of very recent memory is the “Galamsey Economy” undercover investigation by the same Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in which a serving Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen is captured on video negotiating bribes and “Appearance Fees” to the tune of $250,000 from supposed investors for and on behalf of the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. The question every objective Ghanaian should be asking, is how come the names of the President and his Vice, keep popping up in such shady deals and corruption scandals? Why always them? It could neither be mere speculation nor influence peddling any longer. This trend that has now received such unenviable global publicity, must worry every well-meaning Ghanaian. We in the National Democratic Congress are deeply concerned about the damning revelations about our President in this latest documentary by Al Jazeera. The continuous naming of the President and his Vice in all manner of bribe-taking syndicates, must be a cause for concern for every patriotic Ghanaian who cares about the image of the Presidency. Ladies and gentlemen of the media, Al Jazeera’s earth-shaking findings also give currency to the justifiable concerns raised about government’s opaque Gold-for-Oil deal which many experts, civil society organizations and the NDC have had legitimate grounds to criticize and demand transparency and accountability. Never in the history of our country has the Presidency been reduced to a criminal Mafia as we are witnessing today. As has become standard practice under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government, the Presidency has kept a deafening silence on this matter in the wake of the damning revelations contained in the Al Jazeera documentary. Given the record and penchant of this government to coverup graft, Ghanaians cannot and must not accept silence or the usual flippant denials emanating from the Presidency or government corridors on this matter. It is against this backdrop that the NDC hereby calls on the Special Prosecutor to take keen interest in this matter and launch a full-scale investigation into this matter with the aim of prosecuting anyone found culpable. Given the considerable public interest in this
The resources expended on the fight against galamsey is amounted to a financial loss to the state—Vitus Azeem
An Anti-Corruption Crusader, Vitus Azeem has said, government expenditure on the so-called fight against galamsey is a good example of causing financial loss to the State. The anti-corruption crusader was responding to the report released by Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng. The former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Profession Kwabena Frimpong Boateng in his report has mentioned some names within the corridor of power who has contributed in making the fight against galamsey unsuccessful during his time as a minister. Meanwhile, speaking about the controversial excavator issue, the Minister said, there was a calculated scheme even within the NPP party in government to get him out of office. Responding to the report, Mr. Vitus Azeem told Apexnewsgh.com in an Interview that “When you appoint people into very important positions of State and they seem to be thinking more of themselves than the State then definitely, you don’t expect anything good to our so-called fight against galamsey. The people mentioned are an indictment on the whole government not just on those individuals and because of that, am looking at the past experience because we are not likely to come out with any serious actions against those involved in these allegations”. He believes: “We are not fighting galamsey, we are talking about galamsey, nobody is fighting galamsey, and like I always say about corruption we just talk about it. The people who are supposed to be fighting the galamsey themselves are involved in galamsey as the report shows. So, how can we be claiming of fighting galamsey. There is a wide gap between what we say and what we do and that is very unfortunate for us as a country”. “Why should we pump resources in human and financial resources in something we call fighting galamsey and those we spend the resources on them for the fight against galamsey are implicated in the fight. We send soldiers there, when you send soldiers out to the field the amount of money you spend feeding them and other things is quite a huge amount of money, then you get impound some bulldozers and they will vanish. We need bulldozers on our roads and yet they vanish. How can we be talking about galamsey when that effort is been done? We are causing financial loss to the state and this is endorsed by the people we have elected to manage the resources we have generated as a country. He stressed Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Talensi Assembly members hints of demonstrating against Earl International (Gold) GH Ltd over their adamant on road construction
Talensi Assembly members have hinted they will be hitting the street of Talensi District of the Upper East Region to demonstrate against Shaanxi Mining now rebranded to Earl International (Gold) GH Ltd. According to the Assembly members, their planned demonstration is scheduled to commence from Sheaga on Friday, April 28, 2023, to the Earl International (Gold) GH Ltd entrance gate. The Talensi Presiding member and the Assembly for Gari/Gbani electoral area John Millim, told Apexnewsgh.com that “there is this road that links from Tongo to the mining area and since they came, they have used the road and most of the culverts have broken down as a result of their heavy-duty machines. We resolved last year at the assembly and asked them to work on the road they agree to do it and later on, we send them reminders in a written form and they haven’t done what we asked them to do. So, we think demonstration is the only language they understand”. he stressed However, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted Earl International Public Relations Officer Ebenezer Bognaab, he confirmed the demand made by members of the Talensi District Assembly. He described the demand for the road construction as a ‘genuine concern’ raised by the Assembly members. “These are genuine concerns they are expressing”. Earl International PRO admits He told Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen during an interview that, the company has seen the construction of the road as part of their cooperate responsibility to the Talensi people. Insisting that the company Earl International is considering such a demand. “So, as a mining company as part of our cooperate responsibility for the fact that we also used the same road. When they wrote to us, we responded, they send a resolution and we responded to the resolution and they send a reminder. So, we have been engaging the district assembly over this issue, and is a genuine issue and management is currently considering it”. Responding to the aggrieve assembly members who were of the view that the company isn’t cooperating with them on their demand, the PRO said: “It is not true that we are not cooperating, we had a meeting with the DCE in his office, we had a discussion with him on this issue and we are always ready for engagement. You know, it has to do with roads and road construction is not as easy as you know. So, as a company, we have to organize ourselves because we have also some other plans too. So, as I said earlier, we are considering it. Very soon we will start work on the road”. He reacted Roads in Talensi are so deplorable to the extent, people easily questioned the contribution of a mining firm such as Shaanxi now Earl International since its operation in the Talensi district. The company has always been in the news for not performing its responsibility as a mining company that has migrated from small-scale mining and now operating as a large-scale mining company. Most citizens from the Talensi District living in both home and abroad have pointed hands on their leaders and more especially those in authority for their district’s underdeveloped predicaments. The Assembly members want the mining company to consider constructing the road from Tongo Hospital junction straight to Sheaga, Gbani, and across Datoko. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
UER: Chief narrates how he rejected a mining Company that offered him a Tundra pickup, a mechanic workshop etc
The Paramount Chief of the Nabdam Traditional Area Nangonaab, Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II, The Na-Pariyoung of Nabroug has narrated how he rejected a mining company that offered him a Tundra pick up, a Mechanic workshop for repairs, and a hotel to stay with family. The chief narrates, “When I become a chief, companies came to mine and one company called ‘DOLLAR’ came to my palace, they gave me their cola but I didn’t accept it because I asked for their documents and their document didn’t seem right. I rejected their cola which traditionally is not done. But I didn’t want to initiate a relationship with lawless people”. Another company came and this company was very friendly with me, they initially gave me a very powerful pickup to be using, they gave me a Mechanical workshop where I could repair my vehicle in Accra and they told me, anytime you had a problem just come and pack the car and go what will be done will be done, even if it demands buying an engine it will be done. They were building a facility and they were going to give me an office in that facility. I was given a hotel in Kumasi where I could come and stay with my family and I used it a couple of times”. “But my people wrote to me a very long letter indicating how the mining was going to be done within the community and how it was polluting water”. “Am telling you exactly what my pain is this morning. The mining company I rejected had promised a lot of good things to the community as part of their social responsibility and then, they gave me all the things I was talking about. My people complained even to the extent the Tundra that was given to me, they said it was a hummer of course, the rumor carried it as a hummer”. “Well, I wanted to be sure that am not been controlled or led by my selfish gain even though I was in full agreement with my people. I thought it was a source of employment which I care so much and worry so much for those who know me would agree with me. For me, I thought, they could resettle the people and mine because we are compelled. There is no employment, serious unemployment everywhere, poverty all over, the widows were weeping, the orphan everybody is a poor person for which reason I cannot consistently stay within my jurisdiction. So, I thought they will benefit from the good opportunity but because I have taken these things, I also thought I could be influenced by these things”. “So, in public and in Nangode, I declared that we didn’t want to have anything to do with them and they should pack. When I made that great statement, my people were so excited I woke after the meeting and they followed me and was hailing me and that was the end and I gave them back every item, every facility”. Ladies and gentlemen, are the people of this region only looking for the faults of Chief? When we do the good things no body hails us. The Na-Pariyoung of Nabroug asked Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
NABDAM: “For about 4 years now, I don’t know where my royalties are–Nabdam Chief laments
The Paramount Chief of the Nabdam Traditional Area Nangonaab, Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II, The Na-Pariyoung of Nabroug has lamented that for about 4 years he doesn’t know where his royalties are following the mining activities going on in his jurisdiction. “For about 4 years now, I don’t know where my royalties are” The Chief laments According to the aggrieved chief, following up on such development, he has gone to the Mineral Commission and Lands Commission to trash issues out but unfortunately, anytime he went to the officials, they will promise visiting him at the palace to sort out the issues. He said, unfortunately, upon such numerous promises by the officials, he will end up not seeing them at his palace. “ I have gone to all these institutions. I have gone to Land Commission, Mineral Commission, I go there myself and they will just me, your Majesty we will be visiting your palace, you just go back. And am like, I am here and I have come to solve the problem, tell me what is happening, solve the problem and nothing is happening”. “All kinds of mining is taking place within my jurisdiction. Sanding whining is going on uncontrollably without any regard, gravel is been mined and I know nothing about it. I don’t know who give these people permission and based on what law, very unconstitutional activities. I have complained, I have gone to Mineral Commission and Land Commission and I have seen nothing”. He stressed However, the Chief also expressed dissatisfaction with the activities of the Mineral Commission in its jurisdiction without his notice. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
If Ghana had two of the likes of his Lordship Alexander Graham in every region, the justice system will…–SRAN
Savanna Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN), in a press release has said, they appreciate the principled judicial position taken by His Lordship Justice Alexander Graham on not meeting interested people in the mining cases before him. According to SRAN, if Ghana had two of the likes of his Lordship Alexander Graham in every region, the justice system would regain its reputation as a beacon of hope for the rule of law. Read the full release below: PRESS RELEASE JUSTICE AT LAST! BOLGA, 27TH MARCH, 2023 Ladies and gentlemen of the media and civil society, we are grateful to you for keeping faith with us through thick and thin. We appreciate the principled judicial position taken by His Lordship Justice Alexander Graham on not meeting interested people in the mining cases before him. It gives us the hope and confidence that there can be justice in this our judicial system. That despite the rough, influence buying and nepotism in this country there are few people in our state institutions who can rise above these ills in our society that are dragging us to Armageddon. If Ghana had two of the likes of his Lordship Alexander Graham in every region, the justice system would regain its reputation as a beacon of hope for the rule of law. In the absence of judges like His Lordship Justice Alexander Graham, many have suffered a great deal of oppression, humiliation and even lost their lives. Kudos to civil society organizations in the region such as National Patriots Against Injustice & Corruption (NAPAIC), Talensi Mining Communities Initiative (TAMCI), Savannah Research & Advocacy Network (SRAN), etc. for their vigilance and prompt action whenever their surveillance trackers discover injustice against the people, especially in the mining communities. You would recollect that in 2019, the Concerned Citizens of Talensi, a pressure group that emerged to advocate for community development, equity and responsible mining that protects life, property and the environment, raised concerns about the purported behaviour of the Paramount Chief of Talensi Traditional Council. The group accused him of interfering and using his power as the Paramount Chief to abuse land owners, other traditional authorities who don’t agree with him, and claiming to have supervisory jurisdiction of lands, water bodies and trees in Talensi. You would also recollect in the famous Edward Adeti Expose’ that former Regional Minister and Minister of State in Charge of Special Duties, Mr. Rockson Bukari, at the presidency was caught on tape saying that the Paramount Chief of Talensi had asked him to kill the story of an investigative journalist because it would implicate Shaanxi. Here is a clear case of a state official wanting to kill a story that is unfavourable against a foreign mining company that is engaged in unsavoury exploitation of our mineral resources. What happened last Friday, 10th March 2023, is testament in support of the Concerned Citizens of Talensi that they have been making the right calls all these many years, for justice, responsible and sustainable mining in Talensi. We call on the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Talensi Traditional Council, the District Assembly and all stakeholders to come together and unite the community to ensure that mining is done responsibly and beneficial to the community and the people of Talensi. This press release is not to go over what NAPAIC has already recounted but to reinstate what we have been advocating for all these years. That we are not against mining, but we want to ensure that mining is done responsibly and benefits communities where it is undertaken. That the state must have a share, in fact hold some shares in the mining companies in order to generate income for Ghana as a whole and Talensi land in particular. That health and safety needs of miners are guaranteed and miners allowed joining trade unions to fight for their interest and miners must be paid decent wages. So far our experience of large scale mining in our communities has shown that our communities have not benefited from mining. Shaanxi/Earl International has been operating for years and we are yet to see what benefits have come to our people. What has been the benefit of local content? Roads are destroyed, water bodies are diverted, farmlands confiscated, livelihoods displaced, the environment degraded, and lives lost. All in the name of mining that does not uphold the values and cultures of communities. Mining that does not respect the dignity of the people whose resources are being taken away. Cardinal/Shandong is preparing to begin large scale mining operations in Talensi. They are also prospecting for gold all over the Upper East region of Ghana. The local content, for example employment for people who are suffering from loss of their livelihoods has been hardly addressed. We are fighting to ensure that our people and Ghana as a whole benefit from mining. In this light we are calling for transparency and accountability in mining. We encourage government to make licenses, agreements, MOUs, bonds etc. with mining companies publicly accessible. This will enable us to monitor their activities and ensure that they are doing the right thing. We want to reiterate our demands. That Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Shaanxi/Earl International and Cardinal/Shandong should be made available for us to study and ensure that mining does not make our lands desolate. That the government and Minerals Commission should make it public the percentage of shares that the Ghana government holds in these mining concessions and including the amount of royalties that the two major mining companies are paying. That the Minerals Commission and EPA must ensure that health and safety of employees of these mining companies is secured and that they are monitoring these companies to comply with the laws governing mining in the country. That the Minerals Commission and the EPA work together to ensure that tailings dams are well constructed and the reclamation bonds of all companies are up to date. In the saga of the potential bribery and influence by
AUDIO ATTACHED: Talensi traditional council press release a ‘shameful defence’, “we plead with Chief Justice to put together firm security to protect Judge Graham and property–NAPAIC-Ghana
National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana (NAPAIC-Ghana), has responded with great disappointment that they were shocked when the news broke that the Acting Upper East Regional Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Alexander Graham, had been escorted out of the region by the state security apparatus for fear of his life following an attack by unknown persons at his residence on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The group further claimed in their press release that, “It is our strong belief that people who supported the cruel and offensive actions of the agents of the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Nanlebegtang Kugbilsong, to entrap and influence Justice Alexander Graham might have carried out the attack or the threat (our opinion) on the judge. We humbly ask the security services, notably the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to quickly put up an intelligence search on the perpetrators. Meanwhile, this platform has also sighted a publication on A1 radio where the Talensi Traditional Council also claimed they didn’t send the two victims Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii, and the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Richard Sunday Yinbil who are currently under a 6-month bond to influence or entrap Bolga High Court Judge. According to sources available to this platform, Justice Alexander Graham was attacked on Wednesday night which necessitated him to immediately call for security re-enforcement and early dawn on Thursday March 16, he was escorted by the security out of the region. However, with this sad development, NAPAIC-Ghana has pointed that, “There are fears in the region that Justice Alexander Graham would be transferred from the region in the wake of the attack and this would serve as a bad precedent should he be transferred. This is so because anytime judgement would be given against litigants they would resort to this kind of attack on the judge in the hope that the judge would be transferred. This would also discourage judges from working as independently as they should because anytime they uphold the rule of law, the opposition to the rule would deliberately fight back and the only protection for them is to be transferred. We think this would turn the rule of law on its head and undermine our democracy”. “We are pleading with the Chief Justice, His Lordship Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, to as a matter of urgency put together firm security measures to protect the life, family and property of Justice Alexander Graham and to help the Upper East Region by keeping Justice Alexander Graham (the man of the moment) so that we the people of the Upper East Region can experience true justice from the Judiciary”. However, NAPAIC-Ghana has also described the press release by the Talensi Traditional Council signed by Chief of Tindongo, Naab Tampelgsong Kungaadzom as a ‘shameful defence’ insisting that the two were convicted few days ago on their own plea for contempt of court by His Lordship Justice Alexander Graham at the High Court 2 in Bolgatanga. Kindly read the full press release below: NAPAIC-GHANA National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana Email Address: napaicgh2014@gmail.com Date: 17th March, 2023. PRESS STATEMENT Good evening to you all, ladies and gentlemen of the press. We wish to welcome you to yet another news conference following the one we, members of the National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana (NAPAIC-Ghana), held last week. We were shocked yesterday when the news broke that the Acting Upper East Regional Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Alexander Graham, had been escorted out of the region by the state security apparatus for fear of his life. The news also indicated that there was an attack at his private residence on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, by unknown persons. Ladies and gentlemen, you would recall that we mentioned to you the last time we met on Friday, March 10, 2023, that Justice Alexander Graham frankly deserved the title “His Lordship” because of the action he took against the Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii, and the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Richard Sunday Yinbil, and we recommended that the Chief Justice of Ghana should reward Justice Alexander Graham. But to our dismay, it was not long after our press conference before the news of the violent attack on Justice Alexander Graham broke and spread. We think this is barbaric, uncalled-for and shameful. It is our strong belief that people who supported the cruel and offensive actions of the agents of the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Nanlebegtang Kugbilsong, to entrap and influence Justice Alexander Graham might have carried out the attack or the threat (our opinion) on the judge. We humbly ask the security services, notably the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to quickly put up an intelligence search on the perpetrators. We are pleading with the Chief Justice, His Lordship Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, to as a matter of urgency put together firm security measures to protect the life, family and property of Justice Alexander Graham and to help the Upper East Region by keeping Justice Alexander Graham (the man of the moment) so that we the people of the Upper East Region can experience true justice from the Judiciary. There are fears in the region that Justice Alexander Graham would be transferred from the region in the wake of the attack and this would serve as a bad precedent should he be transferred. This is so because anytime judgement would be given against litigants they would resort to this kind of attack on the judge in the hope that the judge would be transferred. This would also discourage judges from working as independently as they should because anytime they uphold the rule of law, the opposition to the rule would deliberately fight back and the only protection for them is to be transferred. We think this would turn the rule of law on its head and undermine our democracy. We respectfully emphasise that Justice Alexander Graham must stay and continue with his good and exemplary work in the interest of the region without
AUDIO ATTACHED: NAPAIC-Ghana lauds High Court Judge in Bolga for not being a victim of compromise
National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana (NAPAIC-Ghana) says, for the first time they are happy to share a piece of good news from the circles of justice to the general public, dubbed “The Judicial Service is Working.” According to the group, these were as a result of what they described as a serious piece of drama that unfolded in Bolgatanga high courtroom, High Court 2 on Friday, March 10, 2023, where the Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii, and Richard Sunday Yinbil, the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, were arrested after they had met with the judge, His Lordship Alexander Graham, in his chambers, to allegedly influence the judge who is currently presiding over a mining-related suit. The group said, the acting Upper East Regional Supervising High Court Judge, His Lordship Alexander Graham, has demonstrated that the laws of Ghana are supreme. However, the group has extended calls to the Chief Justice to consider rewarding hardworking judges such as His Lordship Alexander Graham. The press conference to which Apexnewsgh.com was respectfully invited was organized on Friday, March 10, 2023 Kindly read below: NAPAIC-GHANA National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana Email Address: napaicgh2014@gmail.com Date: ……………………………. PRESS STATEMENT Ladies and gentlemen of the press, good evening. We wish to welcome you all to this all-important press conference organised by the National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption Ghana (NAPAIC-Ghana). For the first time, we begin by saying that we are happy to share this good news from the circles of justice to you, dubbed “The Judicial Service is Working.” The acting Upper East Regional Supervising High Court Judge, His Lordship Alexander Graham, has demonstrated that the laws of Ghana are supreme. This is so because this morning, at about 9:00 am today Friday, March 10, 2023, a serious piece of drama unfolded in his courtroom, High Court 2, where the Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii, and Richard Sunday Yinbil, the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, were arrested after they had met with the judge, His Lordship Alexander Graham, in his chambers, apparently to influence the judge who is currently presiding over a mining-related suit. The judge walked them out and ordered the court warrant officers (police) to arrest and handcuff them immediately. They were arrested and handcuffed immediately on the Judge’s orders. Subsequently, the judge instructed the Chief of Baare and the Secretary to the Tongraan to tell the open court what they had told him privately in chambers. Ladies and gentlemen, shamefully, the Chief of Baare and the Secretary to the Tongraan became dumb and were shivering seriously. For three minutes, they could not utter a word before the court audience. Then, the judge said, “If you cannot tell the court, I will tell them.” His Lordship furiously started by saying that he had issued warnings several times in his courtroom against people who might want to circumvent justice by visiting judges in their homes and in their chambers and that this act was common in the Upper East Region. He further stated that the Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii, and the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Richard Sunday Yinbil, came to him in his chambers and told him that they had been sent by the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, to invite him (the judge) to his palace to discuss some mining-related cases which the judge was presiding over and for the judge to understand the cases before him. They further told the judge that the Tongraan was an accountant, a member of the Council of State, former board chairman of the Tema Oil Refinery, etc. His Lordship Alexander Graham considered their act as a trap and contemptuous. The two (the Chief of Baare Naab Nyakora Mantii, and the Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Richard Sunday Yinbil) were promptly charged with contempt of court. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were convicted on their own plea. Even before their conviction, the judge had asked that the two accused persons produce the Paramount Chief of Talensi, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, in court today. In fact, the whole bench of lawyers numbering about twelve, who were in the courtroom today on different cases from Sunyani, Tamale and Bolgatanga, pleaded profusely on behalf of the two accused persons and especially on behalf of the Tongraan. One Lawyer Mohammed from Gbewa Chambers in Tamale said the Tongraan said he had regretted his action and had asked him to intervene by pleading with the court to not give custodial sentence to the two accused persons. The lawyer further stated that the Tongraan had regretted and said that he would not repeat such an act. Lawyer Jalaldeen of CHRAJ and Lawyer Issahaku Lawal of Legal Aid all pleaded for non-custodial sentence. Lawyer Mohammed Nambe, who is currently the lawyer for the Tongraan, also told the judge that it was even enough punishment by rebuking the accused persons in the open court and that they were first offenders and would not repeat the act. Ladies and gentlemen, His Lordship Alexander Graham truly listened carefully to the lawyers and said the accused persons wanted to trap and destroy his job and if they had fallen into their own trap, why all these pleas from the lawyers. He further asked the lawyers what they themselves would do if they were judges in this contempt case. The whole courtroom was quiet like a cemetery. Justice Alexander Graham is, indeed, deserving of the noble title “His Lordship”. He convicted the accused persons and asked them to sign a bond of six months and to be of good behaviour. He also directed that the bond should be signed before the Upper East Regional Police Command. The two accused persons were held in court custody from around 9.00 am to 3:18 pm before they were sent by police to the Upper East Regional Police Command. We at NAPIAC-Ghana see the development recorded today
Element Africa: Claims of mining encroachment in DRC and broken promises in SA
Activists say Canada-registered miner Alphamin Bisie has been operating outside its concession in the DRC’s North Kivu province, and encroaching into community forests. Police in South Africa have arrested seven activists protesting against Anglo American Platinum for what they say is the mining giant’s failure to report back on its social and work commitments to the mining-affected community. Element Africa is Mongabay’s bi-weekly bulletin rounding up brief stories from the commodities industry in Africa. DRC community accuses Canadian miner of encroaching into their forests WALIKALE, Democratic Republic of Congo — For the past 10 years, a Canadian-registered company, Alphamin Bisie, has been mining tin in a concession in Walikale, northwest of Goma, the principal city in North Kivu province. But residents of the area have not been consulted by the company as required by the country’s mining law. The law requires Alphamin to develop a cahier de charges, an agreement between a concession holder and affected communities of Banamwesi and Motondo, that commits the company to social development projects. This consultation would also allow an assessment of the environmental impacts of the mining project. Alphamin has not fulfilled this requirement. Instead, the company has quietly prospected beyond its concession areas into adjoining forests, according to a civil society activist who asked to remain anonymous for his own safety. Map with crosshatching showing where Alphamin’s concession areas overlap with the Banamwesi and Motondo community forest concessions (CFCL): the company is accused of mining in these areas without permission. “Helicopters had been seen,” he told Mongabay. “The community, which was working to secure title to its land in the framework of the government’s community forest project, contacted the territory’s administrator. At the time, the company denied any occupation of the area,” But, the activist told Mongabay, it was later confirmed that the company has actually begun operating within the boundaries of community forests. The forests belonging to Banamwesi and Motondo cover 13,300 and 23,100 hectares (33,000 and 57,200 acres) respectively. Maps based on data collected by the two communities show the company encroaching into their forests at multiple points. “This community was not consulted,” Fiston Misona, a leading member of civil society in Walikale, told Mongabay. “They continue to claim their rights, since the occupation has not respected the normal process.” A report drawn up by civil society groups in 2017 notes that relations between Alphamin Bisie and the communities surrounding its concession in Walikale territory are likely to become strained if the company does not take their grievances into account. The communities want direct discussions with Alphamin, and for the company to formally recognize that they are affected by its activities. Contacted by Mongabay, the administrator of Walikale territory declined to comment and referred instead to his superiors in Goma. No official response was forthcoming before publication. Armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are profiting from the rush for tin and coltan (columbite and tantalite), driven by growing demand from the world’s electronics industries. Aerial view of Walikale Territory. Image by Sylvain Liechti/MONUSCO via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) S.A. activists arrested in protest at platinum miner’s ‘dismal’ compliance BURGERSFORT, South Africa — Seven activists from the Sekhukhune Combined Mining-Affected Communities (SCMAC) have been charged with intimidation following a Feb. 17 protest against mining giant Anglo American Platinum in Burgersfort, about 375 kilometers (230 miles) from Johannesburg. The activists were remanded in custody on March 1 after their first court appearance and are awaiting a bail hearing. According to SCMAC spokesperson Elton Thobejane, the activists — Speeding Mokhabane, Wister Phasha, Stanley Makgopa, Selalenkwe Nkoana, Athalia Nkoana, Kgakishi Nkoana and Hans Nkgabane — were picketing peacefully outside the Twickenham open-pit platinum mine’s Mopetsi camp when the mining company called the police. Company spokesperson Nomonde Ndwalaza told Mongabay that Anglo American Platinum had called the police after activists “unlawfully blocked the entrance to the mine and threatened and endangered the lives of our employees.” The protest was against the alleged failure of the mine to report back to the community on its social labor plan (SLP) commitments since 2014, Thobejane told Mongabay. The Hackney shaft of Anglo American Platinum’s Twickenham mine. Nearby communities say the company has failed to respect commitments under its government-mandated social and labour plan. Image by Magnificent Mndebele via New Frame (CC BY-SA-4.0) South African mining law obliges companies to make certain commitments to affected communities as part of their application for mining rights. “Mining companies are legally compelled to hold a minimum of three meetings every year with the mining-affected community to update them on the progress of the SLP commitments. They must also submit an annual report that includes the outcome of the community meeting to the minerals regulator to show that they are complying with their SLP. Anglo American Platinum has dismally failed to adhere to the law,” Thobejane said. He said Anglo American Platinum has raked in huge profits while neglecting its environmental and social obligations to impoverished communities around its operations in Burgersfort. Ndwalaza said the company has opened more than 10 cases against local protesters with the local police. She added that only two of 12 SLP projects are incomplete, and those two had been held up by approval delays by the local government authorities and what she called “difficulties in our engagements with often deeply divided communities and their structures.” “We are currently working on closing off the consultation processes on our SLP 3 (2021-2025) projects. We experience bottlenecks in completing these consultations due to various demands by some communities,” she said. In 2016, Anglo American Platinum said its business partner, Atlatsa Resources, had accumulated 4 billion rand ($215 million) in debt, and put the Twickenham mine into care and maintenance. Since then, SCMAC has called for the company to either reopen the mine — and allocate jobs to local community members — or abandon the mine completely and hand the land back to the community. If convicted, the arrested activists face fines of up to $2,300 or 10 years in prison. Anna