Mining Archives - Page 18 of 20

“Is that the work of the RCC??”– Paul Danka questioned Reg. Minister Involvement between Shaanxi and Small Scale miners

John Paul Danka, One of the astute communicators of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the involvement of Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu following the alleged One Million dollar equivalent he is said to have received to settle miners whose concessions were taken by a Mining Company initially known as Shaanxi and now Earl International. Apexnewsgh.com report According to Mr. Danka, “Another problem is the regional Minister, look at what is happening in my area. You have people who came to this republic in the name of supporting mining services called Shaanxi, fast-forward 2008 that law reviewed. Then, there is somebody holding a lease, a concession permit in that area, that Company changed itself to Earl and there is a lease given to them in the name of large-scale mining. How on earth can you give a lease upon a lease or concession upon a concession and you have that minister coming to that enclave. What is in that pot? He quizzed Mr. Danka questioned the Minister’s involvement on a local radio station Dreamzfm in the Bolgatanaga Municipality monitored by Apexnewsgh.com on Friday, October 7, 2022 “Your regional Minister took over, asking those who have issues and those who have gone to court to come out for out-of-court settlement. As we speak today, what has happened to that one? The alleged One million dollar ($1 million) equivalent that the Upper East Regional Minister is said to have received and see how he would be able to help those whose concessions have been taken, to help actually paid them off as we speak we have issues. Is that the work of the RCC?? “You have not seen anything yet, as for the time bomb in Talensi, is still hanging is just a matter of time because once we have realized that government is complicit, the youth of Talensi are not going to sit down, and allow the government because we cannot trust the NPP administration with regards to our natural resources, we cannot. Is like those who benefitted from the pot are okay, but the rest of the people who are there nobody cares about them”. “We know what galamsey has done for our people, is a matter of we making sure we let them follow the due process, let them know the parties that can help them. Most of the roofing and the good building you see hitherto were not there, most of those proceeds are from there. People have worked at galamsey in Talensi and helped their brothers and sisters go to school, and advance their education. So, if you come and you are taking that thing off and you don’t handle it well, is just a matter of time when it explodes, we will then see how the national security issue will be handled”. He laments Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining

UER: A lot of negotiation going on as far as mining activities are concerned—Dr. John Krugu

The National Coordinator for Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) John Kingsley Krugu has said, there is a lot of negotiation going on as far as mining activities in the Upper East Region are concerned. Dr. Krugu confirmed this during an engagement on Apexnews Ghana’s flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST REGION” with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. He said: “The whole of the Upper East is pretty rich with resources and this is the time to make sure we got right” Asking the National Coordinator for Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project to educate us by letting us know some existing mining areas in the region, he said: “Is been mined in Talensi, is also been mined in Zongoyire at the Zongoyire concession and as well there is a mining company in Zongoyire and they have an exploration license and they are also currently busy in the area and don’t forget, there is another company that owns a concession in the Sapeliga area that shares borders with Burkina Faso. So, there is a lot that is going on”. According to him, “Some people have said that the future of gold mining is in the north and now if you looked at Talensi, there are two large-scale mining companies there, we have Earl International the former Shaanxi that was providing mining support services but now transformed into Earl International and bought the small scale and concession into a large scale. Then you have Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited and they are even building a much bigger mine and is in the area of investment of around $200 million dollars. Clearly, this is the direction of the future”. He stressed He said: “Just imagine that when Cardinal is completed and the Zongoyire exploration that is going on and they happen to get a mineral in commercial quantity and you also have a large-scale mine there, we will end up with 3 large-scale mining within the area and that alone will blow up Upper East”. He hinted “I can tell you because a large-scale mine provides several employment opportunities and also several other support businesses. This is the future” He maintained. Responding to the issue of denying indigenes access to what is due them as far as the natural resources are concerned which atimes end up putting them into abject suffering and poverty Dr. Krugu said: Of course, wherever there are mineral resources you will see people in difficulty, and having access to those resources becomes an issue and in most cases, the indigenes get impoverished instead of being blessed with those resources. “But there have been a lot of lessons learned. Sam Jonah will tell you how South Africans became beneficiaries when they became owners of the resources of the concessions and they became investors. Unfortunately, the mining sector is expensive, because you need enough resources and that is when you become a better beneficiary”. He said: “those lessons have been learned and those lessons are been put to negotiation with Earl International. You know they acquired the small-scale mining license from certain individuals in the Talensi area, we know that they pay them money, the negotiation also included equity so it was not just cash that they gave to them”. “The point is that the small-scale miners got an equity share, not just money they took home but in the future, they have a percentage share of whatever the mining company is getting. What that means is that the size of whatever the mining company gets, the bigger their shares become” “Now, those are the lessons we have learned. What it means is that the indigenes don’t get impoverished but they will continue to benefit and those kinds of negotiations are going on as I speak to you in the Zongoyire area. We are in discussion with the company that is doing the exploration because the youth there cannot wait for the exploration to be completed for them to see whether the resources are in large quantities to get investors to come and do large-scale mining”. However, just on a lighter note, Dr. Krugu acknowledged that folks are hungry and they cannot wait. “So, we are in negotiation with the mining company to say, give us a portion of the concession for community mining for the youth to find something to do and earn little income”. Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining, Opinion

Talensi District: We cannot have gold and don’t have portable drinking water, good road, and facilities—Solomon TTB

The Talensi Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a resident of Talensi Solomon TTB have registered his displeasure following the happenings in the Talensi District a place well known across the world as a land blessed with natural resources such as Gold, rosewood and Upper quarry. Speaking with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. Mr. Solomon shared an interesting experience that many people do not know about. According to him, for most people who freely travel back home when they are visited with a heavy downpour, in the case of Talensi, is a different thing altogether because the road is very deplorable. He said: “when it rains, people from the community don’t want to return home, when it rains, it affects teachers, it affects farmers, it affects everyone including those sitting on these natural resources themselves”. “We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our road is very bad, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our health facilities are very deplorable, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and we don’t have portable drinking water, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and youth are unemployed, we cannot have Gold in Talensi and our youth are engaging in certain social miscreants No, it is time for us to engage the mining companies we don’t have to fight with them. Fighting will never resolve the matter”. He stressed Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining

Talensi: Ghana Mines workers Union with Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited to kick start talks ahead of 2023 salaries

Ghana Mines workers Union with the Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited a large-scale mining entity operating in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region will be meeting to discuss issues regarding their 2023 salaries and some other working conditions on Thursday, September 22, 2022. Apexnewsgh.com report The branch Union Secretary of Ghana mine workers in the area Solomon Yintota made the revelation during his engagement with Apexnewsgh.com on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, following an alleged accusation of workers of the company have not been treated well by their employer Earl International. Earlier, in an engagement on Apexnewsgh.com flagship programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” Solomon TTBa resident of the area has alleged that workers are been treated unfairly by management. “I am telling you that those people are more and less like they are working by day. They are working by day because, the moment you go to work they will mark your pay for the day, but the day you did not go to work, that day they won’t mark and you won’t get anything. And there is no mining firm in this country that is doing by day unless you are a casual worker or they are engaging you to come and do construction work for them”. He said However, responding to the comment made by Solomon TTB, the branch Union Secretary Mr. Yintota, partially admitted that is true that workers of Earl International don’t receive equal payment like other workers in various mining companies. “Am aware that their salaries are more than us and that where we are all struggling to see how we can catch up and they are been paid in dollars and we are been paid in cedis. But now we have been paid in cedis converted to dollar rate. As I told you, we are going to discuss 2023 salaries in dollars and that is the only thing I think we are lacking from other mining companies. Besides that, in the mining industry, the way our safety and other thing was, we were not like other miners. But because they have moved to a large scale, safety has improved. We are not saying we are perfect like other mining companies but we are also far behind where we came from and we are better somehow now”. Mr. Yintota told Apexnewsgh.com Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining, Opinion, Politics

Talensi Gold: Some of us are seeking political leadership because things are not done right—Solomon TTB

The Talensi Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Solomon TTB has revealed that some of the Talensi youth are seeking political leadership today because things are not done right with the natural resources given to them by God.He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. According to the Constituency Secretary, some of the youth are seeking political leadership, not because of certain things but because some of the things are not done right, “if things are done why should we be seeking political leadership?“We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our road is very bad, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our health facilities are very deplorable, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and we don’t have portable drinking water, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and youth are unemployed, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our youth are engaging in certain social miscreants No, it is time for us to engage the mining companies we don’t have to fight with them. Fighting will never resolve the matter”. He also blamed traditional leaders in the area for contributing to the current challenges affecting the plight of the people in the various mining communities in the Talensi district. “Traditional leaders have failed us, if you have chiefs, Tindaanas, the opinion leaders coming out together with a blueprint, a memorandum of understanding engaging the communities together, bringing the mining companies on a round table discussion to look at how employment is done, how they are procuring their things who are the people they are giving the contract to, youth that they are employing, whether they obeying the mining safety, are they giving royalties? If they are giving royalties, how do we share them? These are things traditionally we have to look at”. “We have a District Chief Executive (DCE), He is from the community, he knows the people very well, he has contact with each of the mine. And for that matter, once you are a government appointee and you are representing the people, your core mandate is to see how you will help our people to be supported. So, when the government wants to end their so-called illegal mining I would have thought that EPA, Mineral Commission, The lands and Natural Resources Minister, Regional Minister, and DCE would consider training these people on how not to cause harm to the environment and atmosphere and even how to mine without destroying our water body by way of giving them a place to mine under the community mining. Sincerely speaking, EPA and mineral Commission have disappointed Talensi and I must be frank with you. In fact, people are of the view and alleging that they come to take monies” he alleged Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining

Talensi Gold: Resident accuses Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd of unfair treatment against workers.

A Talensi resident and Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Solomon TTB has alleged that workers at the Shaanxi mine now Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd (EIGGGL) are subjected to some level of unfair treatment in line with their duty. He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on their flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. According to Mr. Solomon TTB, the government, duty bearers, stakeholders and CEO of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd (EIGGGL) should as a matter of urgency organize a round table discussion because to him, “there is a lot behind what we are seeing. The workers who are at Shaanxi now Earl International, you people need to engage them, a very serious mine that is engaged in large scale mining, their salary should be of concern” He said “I am telling you that those people are more and less like they are working by day. They are working by day because, the moment you go to work they will mark your pay for the day, but the day you did not go to work, that day they won’t mark and you won’t get anything. And there is no mining firm in this country that is doing by day unless you are a casual worker or they are engaging you to come and do construction work for them”. “And if they employ you and you are asking for some days off, those days you are asking for, they will grant you alright but they won’t pay you for those days. If they grant you, you don’t have money to collect from them. If you are a professional teacher and you ask for permission from your school head and your school head grants you permission, do they write comptroller and accountant general not to pay you because you didn’t come to school? If you work with the Mineral commission and you ask for permission from your boss and it is granted does the government of Ghana refuse to pay you? Why are they allowing them to do this? These are some of the things going on there and we are not happy. They are our brothers and we want them to live a responsible life. So, they should be well compensated, they should be well paid”. He stressed “I don’t think that a diploma teacher teaching in Tola will not be paid less because he is working in a remote community. His colleague in Accra and the one at Tola receive the same salary. For example, If Newmonth Ghana gold mine is paying their PRO Ghc 20,000, a PRO in Earl International should be paid Ghc 20,000 too” he emphasized He further added, “If you went to work and there is an institutional failure at the site, they will not mark you for the day. Even though you went to work alright, they will not mark you for the day”. Mr. TTB alleged However, reacting to Solomon TTB’s position on maltreatment of workers at the Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, the Union branch Secretary of Ghana mine workers Union Solomon Yintota refuted the claim. According to him, “In mining, we have 24 working days. We work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and 24 days a month. But if you worked more than 24 days, they calculate them as extra days because that is your rest day you have used to work. So, within the 24 days, the rest of the 6 days are meant for you to rest whether you asked for permission or you’re on leave. So, because you are entitled to work for 24 days, you have to take off 6 days. So, if you asked for permission for 3 or 4 days, it will not affect your 24 days. Assuming my salary is Ghc 2000.00, it will be based on the 24 days”. “So, if he is saying if worker asked for permission they won’t pay him, it is not within the 24 days and every institution has rules and regulation. So, if you are not there to know this is how we do it you won’t understand”.However, Mr. Yintota agreed to the fact that the payment issue needs to be addressed “Even though we have some issues with the company we need to address especially as he was sighting example with payment of workers like PRO in some other areas that are very perfect. But in the institution we are, they started from somewhere and get to somewhere”. Mr. Yintota admits Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0246336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining

Talensi: Over 800 youth from the area have been employed—EIGGGL response to CSOs

Following the call by Savanna Research & Advocacy Network (SRAN) and the Foundation for the Transformation of Marginalized Areas (TAMA Foundation Universal) for Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd (EIGGGL) formerly known as Shaanxi Mining Limited to compensate settlers at the Obuasi site in Gbane, Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd has responded. A statement signed by Bognaab Ebenezer as spokesperson says: “Over 800 youth from the area have been employed”. “Goodwill packages (compensation) be paid to the over 39 small-scale mining groups that existed in the area. These 39 different groups have since amalgamated and become partners of the EIGGGL large-scale business in Ghana”. “2% of gold royalties be paid to the amalgamated small-scale miners twice every year, to serve as alternative, sustainable income source to the concession owners” 200 small scale miners’ employees/staff/workers be employed by EIGGGL as an alternative livelihood source to workers of the concession owners” “Small scale mining concession owners to disband their staff for onboarding into EIGGGL” “An amount of One Million Dollars was expended in this exercise. In other words, the agreement was successfully executed with compensations duly paid, recruitment of workers ongoing and miners now awaiting payment of shares” Below are the full details. Press StatementCc: All media houses 16TH September, 2022.Rejoinder: COMPENSATION FOR SETTLERS IN OBUASI MINING SITE, GBANE The attention of management of Earl International Group [GH] Gold Ltd has been drawn to a press conference organized by some two groups that call themselves the Savanna Research & Advocacy Network (SRAN) and the Foundation for the Transformation of Marginalised Areas (TAMA Foundation Universal) on the above subject matter. The hastily circulated statement is entirely at variance with the intents and purposes of the exercise our company has embarked upon in the last three days. The Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd. (EIGGGL) has a large scale concession area of 16.02Sq.Km in the Gbane mining Community. Prior to the grant of this large scale area, a number of small scale mining groups-licenced and unlicenced- existed in the area. Having successfully acquired the large-scale mining lease, EARL was confronted with the challenge of either coexisting with the small-scale miners over the same licenced area or finding an amicable exit plan for the small scale miners who hitherto occupied this area. It was however apparent both large scale and small scale operations couldn’t be on the same licenced area as such posed eminent dangers ans unsafe acts to either side. Together with government, an exit strategy was designed to have the small scale miners relinquish their interests in the area. Government quickly facilitated an agreement (MOU) between the small-scale miners and the company which among other conditions stipulated that: i. Good will packages (compensation) be paid to the over 39 small scale mining groups that existed in the area. These 39 different groups have since amalgamated and become partners of the EIGGGL large scale business in Ghana.ii. 2% of gold royalties be paid to the amalgamated small scale miners twice every year, to serve as alternative, sustainable income source to the concession ownersiii. 200 small scale miners’ employees/staff/workers be employed by EIGGGL as an alternative livelihood source to workers of the concession ownersiv. Small scale mining concession owners to disband their staff for onboarding into EIGGGL An amount of One Million Dollars was expended in this exercise. In other words, the agreement was successfully executed with compensations duly paid, recruitment of workers ongoing and miners now awaiting payment of shares.It has been the expectation of both parties- EIGGGL and government that these small scale miners would clear off the concession and to allow the company have unfettered access to its tenement and mine in very safe atmosphere. However, hundreds of these miners, including itinerant illegal miners, enter the existing small scale miners pits and access the underground tunnels of Earl on daily and nightly basis. The drill, blast support pillars, damage equipment, steal ore, attack company staff and mesmerize the company’s operations all time. It became imperative that management secures the concession properly for mining. Thus, a joint Military, Police, NIB, Minerals Commission force together with the company took the initiative to seal off all illegal mining pits WITHIN the Earl concession and LINKED to the underground operations. It can be recalled that in 2019, about 16 illegal miners sadly lost their lives following similar illegal entries into operational areas that exposed them to hazardous conditions.It must be noted therefore that: The exercise was to seal off illegal mining pits located within the company’s concession for these pits have become dubiously known for dangerous incursions by illegal miners which pose dangers to their lives as well as that of our staff. Exercise is government sanctioned- led and monitored by the Minerals Commission, Military, Police, NIB and leaders of the small scale miners who signed up to the MOU. Those affected are illegal miners who on daily basis use the existing pits of the small scale miners who have subscribed to EIGGGL large scale business. The company operates an underground mine and same has been the mode of operation in the last 13 years. This current exercise, which is in its 3rd day today, hasn’t impacted on the structures/crops/ or farmlands of the people that warrant the CSOs calls for compensation. Mind you, compensations have already been made for these areas. For the avoidance of doubt, the company will compensate any structures / persons/ farmlands that will be impacted as and when such situations come up. Well meaning CSOs should be concerned about the safety of the people and the mine. Safety is the driving force of the current exercise. It is imprudent to describe a mine that is taking measures to forestall the recurrence of mishaps as an unsafe mine. The CSOs cant be seen to approbate and reprobate. The company has taken stringent measures to protect lives and properties in the area. It is to this extent that since the 2019 incident involving the illegal miners, no such nasty situation has

Mining, Opinion

Compensate Obuasi settlers, your operation has caused more death of many illustrious sons and daughters—CSOs to Earl International

Some well recognized Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in the Upper East Region have extended their calls to the Talensi Traditional Area Council, Talensi District Assembly, Member of Parliament for the area, Minerals Commission, and the Upper East Regional Minister to as a matter of urgency ensure that proper resettlement and compensation packages are paid to affected communities by the mining activities of formerly known Shaanxi Mining now currently known as Earl International. The convener, Samuel Sapak made the call during a press conference at the regional capital, Bolgatanga on Thursday 15th September, 2022.According to the Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) and Foundation for Transformation of Marginalized Areas (TAMA), the existence of Earl International in the Gbane community has so far had a negative and regrettable impact on residents and the environment.“Earl International Mining Group has been mining in the area for over 10 years with nothing to show with respect to jobs for the youth, infrastructural and local enterprise development for members in the community”. The group said They further accused the Chinese mining company of “causing the deaths of many illustrious sons and daughters in Talensi due to its poor health and safety standards”. According to the CSOs, the company on Wednesday 14th September 2022 “moved its heavy vehicles and equipment to Obuasi (a mining site in the Gbane area) with a heavy police escort and started filling opened mining pits with Concrete in preparation to expand their operations in the Gbane area after successfully securing a large-scale mining license from Government of Ghana” to upgrade its 0.2km2 concession to 16km2. They noted that, not only ‘Galamsey’ is a danger to human life and the environment but the activities of large-scale mining companies such as Earl International, Cardinal, and Cassius could cause far serious devastation to life and the environment if not monitored and regulated. However, they cautioned Earl International not to further worsen the economic plight of the residents by driving them away without compensation, which otherwise will go contrary to the requirement of the Minerals and Mining law, 2006, regulation 2012 (LI 2175). Read the full statement below: September 15, 2022Press Conference on:COMPENSATION FOR SETTLERS IN OBUASI MINING SITE, GBANEPress Conference by the Savanna Research & Advocacy Network (SRAN) and the Foundation for the Transformation of Marginalised Areas (TAMA Foundation Universal) Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press. We are grateful to you for being here at this short notice. Yesterday, at Gbane, in the mining area popularly called Obuasi, christened after the popular Obuasi mines in the Ashanti region because of its mineral endowment, Shaanxi, now Earl International moved heavy vehicles and equipment with heavy police escort and started filling open mining pits with concrete cement.Earl International, formerly Shaanxi has successfully secured a large-scale mining licence from the Government of Ghana which upgrades their 0.2km2 concession to 16km2 and has been preparing to expand their operations in the Gbane area. We understand that the Obusai site and the settlement is one of the areas that is within the concession area Earl International (Shaanxi) has secured mining rights to mine gold and therefore it is within their right to prepare the place to pave way for the expansion of their operations. However, we caution that the company carries out this exercise humanely and with respect to the dignity of the residents who have been eking their living in the area long before Earl International expressed interest to disrupt their peace and livelihoods. For the purpose of those who do not know about the genesis of Shaanxi in Talensi, we wish to inform you that Shaanxi was originally brought to Ghane to provide mining support for Yenyeya and Pubodtaaba mining companies whose combined 50 acreage constituted a 0.2km2 concession. They reached an agreement with Yenyeya and Pubodtaaba mining companies and 36 other small scale concession holders to take over their concessions to go large scale. The health and safety hazards associated with the Shaanxi mining activities which have resulted in the death of many people have been widely reported. We are bold to state that the Earl International’s (Shaanxi) presence in Ghane has had a negative impact on the population and the environment. Earl International (Shaanxi) has been mining for over 10 years with nothing to show with respect to jobs for the youth, infrastructural development, and local enterprise development for the community members. At this point we can say that Shaanxi’s poor health and safety standards have caused the death of many illustrious sons and daughters in Talensi. According to graphic.com, Shaanxi Mining Company Ghana Limited was fined $40,000 after it was found culpable in a blast that claimed 16 lives in Talensi in 2019. The Minerals Commission however failed to order the company to pay compensation to the victims’ relatives. These and many lives have been lost due to the negligence and unsafe mining practices at Shaanxi. It must be noted that it is not only ‘galamsey’ that is a danger to human life and the environment. Large-scale mining companies such as Earl International, Cardinal and Cassius could cause far serious devastation to life and the environment if their operations are not monitored and regulated with all the seriousness it requires.We therefore as environmental justice CSOs demand the following actions: That Earl International (Shaanxi) should not further aggravate the economic plight of the residents by driving them away without compensation. This is because the Minerals & Mining Law 2006, in Regulation 2012 (LI2175) requires mining companies to develop and implement a compensation plan to ameliorate the suffering of community members whose land and other resources will be affected. That, the Talensi Traditional Council, Talensi District Assembly, the Member of Parliament for Talensi, the Minerals Commission and the Regional Minister should as a matter of urgency ensure that there is proper compensation and resettlement for all the communities that will be affected by Earl International’s (Shaanxi) operations. That, with immediate effect, a resettlement/compensation committee be constituted to spearhead negotiations for the right compensation

Mining

Mineral Commission stops Cassius Mining Limited in Ghana

The Minerals Commission has rejected a request by Cassius Mining Limited to continue with its prospecting of gold with the Gbane Mining Project in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. The Commission has declined to extend the mining company’s prospecting license due to lack of beneficial Ownership Disclosure in registering in accordance with the Regulation 107 (1) (b) of the Minerals and Mining ( Licensing) Regulation, 2021, ( L.I 2176). The gesture means that the directors and shareholders of the company cannot engage in any mining activities in Ghana. In a letter dated January 23, 2020 to Cassius Mining Limited, the Commission regretted to inform Cassius Mining Limited that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources had considered its request but was unable to approve the extension of its prospecting license for the following reason: “You concealed and or suppressed the fact that Messrs Anthony Upul Samantha and Radwin Elhassan, listed as directors and shareholders of Cassius Mining Limited, (the “Company”) in the company’s incorporation documents submitted in support of the application for the PL have been convicted for various offences in Australia and thus not qualified to have been named directors of the company under the companies legislation of Ghana at the time of applying for the PL” “The company would not have been legally established with the above officers being part of its promoters and subsequently part of its directors if they had fully disclosed their criminal past prior to applying for the PL” “The suppression of the foregoing vitiating material facts, clearly known to the Company, at the time of applying for the PL, meant the Company’s application for the PL and for extension of same, contained a statement which was misleading or false in relation to the legal capacity of the said directors and same is a breach of Regulation 107 (1) (b) of the Minerals and Mining (Licensing ) Regulations, 2012, ( L.I 2176)”. The letter partly stated that “in view of the conviction of Anthony Upul Samantha and Radwin Elhassan, they are barred from being directors in Cassius mining company by virtue of section 177 of act 992”. On September 16, 2019, Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) submitted a petition to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to investigate the report on the Directors and Shareholders of Cassius Mining Limited for breaching Regulation 107 (1) (b) of the Minerals Commission. NORPRA’s petition, which was accompanied with some documents, revealed that the Australians who are shareholders and directors of Cassius Mining Limited at the time of registration at the Registrar-General Department were ex-convicts and that is criminal according to Companies Act. The Directors and Shareholders who were found to be ex-convicts are Messrs Anthony Upul Samantha and Radwin Elhassan. On December 5, 2019, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice wrote to the Registrar General of the Registrar’s General Department to strike out the names of Anthony Upul Samantha and Radwin Elhassan as Directors of Cassius Mining Limited for being convicted of criminal acts in Australia and that they cannot be directors of a businss in Ghana in view of section 172 of the companies Act 2019 ( Act 992). The Executive Director of NORPRA, Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, in an interview with 3news.com, said: “NORPRA appreciates and commends the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources for acting positively on the petition we presented to them on ex- convicts acting as Directors and Shareholders of a Mining Company in Ghana.” Mr Adongo Ayorogo revealed that they have conducted a study on Beneficial Ownership Disclosure and Integrity Secreening of Mining Companies in Ghana, and found the reason Ghana gave her mineral resources to Australian ex-convicts in Cassius Mining Limited. NORPRA therefore said: “Ghana having signed onto the open Governance Partnership (OGP) in 2014 needed to strengthen its Beneficial Ownership ( BO) Disclosure regime and due Diligence system to be able to effectively identify and keep high- risk companies out of the country and ensuring that, only honest and responsible mining companies with a strong business integrity track record are granted Mineral rights”. 3news For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

Mining

Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd accomplished its resettlement project promise at Biung and Accra New Site Area

A known mining establishment, Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited operating in the Talensi District of the Upper East Upper Region has successfully commissioned its Biung and Accra New Site resettlement projects. Apexnewsgh.com report The move is part of its process to resettle mining-affected people at Biung and Accra New Site area. According to Mr. Luis Santana, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, the Biung, and Accra New Site resettlement project was planned to improve housing infrastructure without necessarily changing the way of life and social interaction of the project-affected victims. He said: “In a more cost-effective way of providing urban-type services such as reticulated electric power, improved water supply and sanitation, improved community access roads and social services including schools, healthcare facilities, church among other for 61 families at Biung and 56 families at Accra New Site all located within the Namdini Mining Area”. Mr. Santana said, in acknowledgment of the potential social and environmental impacts associated with a such development project, Cardinal Mining Limited introduced the concept of sustainability to mitigate the impact of involuntary resettlement by putting in place livelihood restoration and vulnerable assistance programmes, which are aimed at economic empowerment and social enhancement of the project affected people. According to the CEO, all households at Biung and Accra New Site are beneficiaries of the livelihood restoration programme and have also been provided with agricultural extension services, tractor services to plough their farmlands, farm inputs including maize, millet, beans, and groundnut seeds, farming tools such as cutlasses, hoes, wellington boots, spraying machines, pesticides, and fertilizers. He revealed, that the company has engaged the services of a local NGO, Widows and Orphan Movement (WOM) to implement a vulnerable assistance programme to support vulnerable households during the transitional period of the resettlement to cushion them against shocks and hardship and to attain self-sufficiency. According to Mr. Santana, the vulnerable assistance programme is providing various assistance packages such as healthcare services, food rations, and micro-enterprise development among others. He believes the objectives of the programme will be realized when all stakeholders, project beneficiaries, and implementers effectively and efficiently play their parts. Meanwhile, he acknowledged that the collaboration between Cardinal Namdini, the District Assembly, Tongraan, Chief and the people of Biung and Accra New Site is making the project a success. “The ongoing partnership between Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited and its local stakeholders has also culminated in construction in construction of a 25km public road from Balungu to the mine at a cost of U$7 Million. Which when completed, will improve communication between nearby communities and serve as mine access road”. He explained He said the completion of the resettlement project pave way for the construction of the Namdini Gold project, with an estimated gold production of over 1 million oz au during the first 3 years of operation and an average of 278k oz au during its year’s mine life”. He revealed He is of the view that the government’s plan to promote the social-economic development of the northern part of Ghana is highly aligned with Shandong Gold’s strategic goal. Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited will uphold the principles of regulatory compliance, transparency, and world-class standard, and will be a responsible developer of the Namdini Gold Project. Mr. Santana however expressed his personal appreciation and thanks to the Honorable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Deputy Minister of Mines, CEO and Staff of Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, Tongraan and the Talensi Traditional Council, Talensi District Assembly, The Chief and the people of Biung and all the Local Contractors and workers that with their hard work and dedication helped to make the resettlement project a success. Baare Chief, Naab Nyaakora Mantii who spoke on behalf of the paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang advised Cardinal Namdini, the CEO and subordinate not to neglect their social responsibilities. “We all know as part of your work, you have to, in terms of development, employment and other support the community or the traditional area at large. We plead with you to make sure we get what is due to us. Make sure you live peacefully and cooperate with one another. Take good care of these nice-looking buildings we are seeing, make sure you are able to coexist with our partners and do not confront them in terms of problems. Whatever problem you have there are lay down procedure”. He advised However, expressing his excitement Sector Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor said his excitement was as a result of the potential jobs the Namdini Mining operation is going to create for the people of the Upper East Region, it impacts on the social-economic development of the area and the country at large. “I was happy to learn that even before the first gold they poured Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited had already factored local content in its employment policy including senior management like the Company Secretary and the head of legal who are from this very region Upper East”. “This is indeed a sign that the operation of the mine will bring many more jobs to the people of this region and Talensi in particular”. “The conventional that gold was only found in the southern part of our country no longer holds. Today, active mining operations are ongoing in almost every part of the country including northern Ghana. Before any mining operation commences the law of our country particularly the Minerals and Mining Acts 206 Act 703 and the Mineral and Mining Compensation resettlement Regulation 2012 enjoined mining companies to resettle persons who will be affected by Mining operations and the Minister is empowered to ensure that the resettlement is done on a suitable manner, paying particular attention to the wellbeing of the people. “Having realized that the operation of Cardinal Namdini will affect people Biung and Accra New Site, it was incumbent on us to work with the company to ensure that all affected families are relocated. Together with the Minerals Commission and Company, we have worked tirelessly

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Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd accomplished its resettlement project promise at Biung and Accra New Site Area

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