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
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
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
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
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
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
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
UER: Fifteen Municipal and District Mining Committees Inaugurated
Fifteen Municipal and District Mining Committees from four Regions have been inaugurated in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region with the sole mandate to ensure responsible mining activities. The Regions were the Upper East and West, North East and Savannah Regions with six members in each Committee led by Municipal and District Chief Executives. The beneficiary Municipalities and Districts in the Upper East Region include the Bolgatanga and Kassena-Nankana Municipalities, Talensi, Nabdam, Bongo and the Bawku West Districts. In the North East Region, the Committees would be in the Mamprugu-Moagduri District, East and West Mamprusi Municipalities, while the Upper West Region, the Committees would be in the Nadowli-Kaleo, Jirapa, Wa, Sissala East and Wa East Districts. The Savannah Region had only one Committee in the Bole District. In his address, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu tasked members in the respective Committees to work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in them. He said the inauguration was a rare opportunity to help the four Regions in the North to elevate its present unenviable status to different levels, adding that the task of the Committee was very important, and if handled well, the benefits would bring development to the unemployed teeming youth. He said the teeming unemployed youth, often migrated to the Southern part of Ghana, especially in the dry season to engage in illegal mining activities popularly called ‘Galamsey’ to earn a living. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker who inaugurated the Committees, charged them to support President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the sector Minister to achieve the aim of the Committees. He said globally, countries such as Australia, South Africa among others, that were blessed with gold deposits, encountered challenges in regularizing the mining sector. “The onus is on us to get ourselves organized, be monitoring the activities of ‘galamseyers’ even more so, those who have been licensed to mine,” he said. The Deputy Minister noted that some licensed mining companies were engaged in irresponsible mining, and charged the Committees to work to ensure illegalities within the sector were stopped. As part of efforts to check the pollution of river bodies, Mr Duker said some speed boats were procured and would soon be commissioned by the President with river wardens to do intermittent patrols on the rivers. Apexnewsgh.com
UER: Acting PRO of Yenyeya Mining Enterprise Accused Upper East Reg. Minister of…
The Acting Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Yenyeya Mining Enterprise, a mining firm operating in the Gbane Community in Talensi District of the Upper East Region Jarvis Avoka has accused the Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu of denying them (Yenyeya) the opportunity to addressed some concerns during the Sector Minister’s Visit to the region. Apexnewsgh.com reports The Sector Minister for Land and Natural resources Samual Abu Jinapor in a one-day visit to the Upper East Region mining site in Gbane community where he met with the officials of Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited. However, his visit has brought some level of dissatisfaction to officials of Yenyeya Mining Enterprise who were not excited with the treatment offered them by the Regional Minister and some other concerns such as not receiving any formal letter regarding the visit of the Sector Minister. Yenyeya also described the Regional Minister’s action of leading the sector minister to the site in dispute as an illegality. “That morning, my boss informed me that the minister is coming and my worry was that, whether we were invited? NO. No one gave him any formal notice that the sector Minister was visiting. So, we just went there and sat. Then they said, the minister was coming at 12 pm. If you check my Facebook wall you will see that i made a post when I saw Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited welcomes you Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and your entourage to our operation site Gbane that, “…the matter is in court. Lawyers for the Chinese prayed the court for an out-of-court settlement. The presiding judge granted this request. Discussions commenced with the Upper East Regional Minister as the key arbiter. …. This letter that the Minerals Commission wrote with the keyword “demobilize” was recently published… Today, the key arbiter is leading the Sector Minister to visit the same site amidst funfair to validate the illegality and arm-twist the two local small-scale mining license holders? ….. Impunity? Disregard for our laws and legal processes court authority?” Yenyeya Acting PRO Jarvis Avoka complained on his Facebook wall, the day of the Sector Minister’s visit to Gbane. He also raised another concern, that the Regional Minister who happens to be the arbitrator between them and the Chinese people denied officials of Yenyeya the opportunity to air their concerns during the visit of the sector minister, hence allowed officials of Earl International to make a presentation as they claimed, the 38 small scale miner involved have been settled and compensated and there were no issues on the ground. “When the Sector Minister came, he just addressed the house and said that he has no time to go round the facility as they initially planned because of time, he would want to go. So Maxwell Wooma made a Presentation and afterward, my boss (Charles) wanted to say something and the Regional Minister said, due to lack of time, he should rather come to the residency”. Jarvis told Apexnews Gh However, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu on his part of the story he said, Mr. Charles Ndabon did not catch the eye of the Sector Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor. But he later realized that Mr. Ndabon wanted to say something and he quickly informed him to come to the RCC where the Sector Minister was supposed to meet with some other small-scale miners and that was when they were about leaving the site. “After going around Cardinal Resources, we were very tired. So, the Minister told me, we are going to spend only 15 minutes there. So, Maxwell, their PRO got up and introduced themselves, they even introduced Charles he was there and they introduced him and the Minister wanted to leave and then Maxwell begged and said he wanted to explain a few things to the sector minister. So, we all waited and Maxwell put up this thing and we all listen, after that when we are to go, Charles then wanted to ask a question and the Sector Minister didn’t catch his eye. So, I realized he wanted to ask a question, then I asked him to come to the RCC”. Responding to the issue of not giving formal notice to Yenyeya Mining Enterprise regarding the coming of the sector minister, the Minister said, is not his responsibility to inform the miners about the Sector minister’s visit and must not be blamed for that. He said that is the job of the Mineral Commission and Ministry. “Am i the one who is supposed to inform them? Is it not Mineral Commission? If the Ministry is coming to meet people, is it not the Ministry who should do all these things. So, wherever they heard and they came to the meeting what was wrong? If they didn’t catch the eye of the Minister and I signal him that, there is another meeting, that you can come there and ask your questions, why didn’t they come? Because I was only doing them a favor. I am very surprised, Charles should be the last person….Because this world is not a fair place, because when you are trying to do the right thing for people, people don’t like it that way. Because my brother, I brought these things on the table and before I came, none of these were on the table. Upper East Regional Minister responded More to come… Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Go back to court, I don’t think your chief arbitrator is giving you fair treatment —Paul Danka gives free advice to Yenyeya Mining Enterprise
John Paul Danka a Communication Team member of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who doubles as a native of Talensi District of the Upper East Region has advised Yenyeya Mining Enterprise an aggrieved registered small scale mining company operating in Gbane Community to proceed back to court. Apexnewsgh.com reports According to a brief history between Yenyeya Mining Enterprise and Shaanxi Mining Limited now known as EARL International. It is public knowledge that Shaanxi mining now Earl International Group (GH) Gold Mining Limited came into Gbane community of Talensi through Yenyeya the owner of the concession they currently occupied. It is also public knowledge that Shaanxi Mining was brought in to give Yenyeya a mining support service. It is also public knowledge that these two entities have worked together as partners since 2008. However, the latest development causing albatross per what is out there in the public domain got to do with the Chinese moving into a large-scale mining business under the name “Earl International Group (GH) Gold Mining Limited” through the back door which has been described as a strategy of taking over the concession that belonged to Yenyeya (his Ghanaian employer). Yenyeya Mining Enterprise later went to court praying for “an independent professional auditor” to audit the “mining operations and other related activities” that have been carried out inside the Yenyeya Mining Enterprise’s concession from 2008 to date. However, the Plaintiff is also praying the High Court to pronounce a restraining order “in the nature of a perpetual injunction” stopping Earl International Group (GH) Gold Mining Limited “from doing illegal mining and related activities” in the Yenyeya Mining Enterprise’s small-scale concession and from entering the concession until the court case is over. Yenyeya Mining Enterprise further seek “relief for damages resulting from injury caused to Plaintiff’s rights by the willful and malicious conversion of Plaintiff’s ownership of its small-scale mining concession by the defendants”. It is also looking for relief for “damages sustained from injury to Plaintiff’s property resulting from breach of contract and the unauthorized and wrongful exercise of control over Plaintiff’s concession by the defendants”. But according to Mr. Danka who was speaking on Dreams FM Morning Show monitored by Apexnewsgh.com on October 8, 2021, the actions exhibited so far by the regional minister who happens to be the arbitrator between the mining partners has not shown any atom of equal fairness to Yenyeya Mining Enterprise. “I was expecting that time the sector/regional minister will be giving the commentary and even before the company that are coming in are given there prospective licensing and what have you per whichever stage they have gotten to MOU should have been signed with the assembly and our Tidaan and Chiefs been parts of these MOUs. “Because our land tenant system here they should remember, is different from any other land system here in the country depending on where you found yourself. In Talensi, we know that Tindaana’s own lands so they need to be part of parcel of these MOUs and to appreciate exactly what the mining Companies have brought”. “And here is the situation, the politicians is usual of them, we will come and speak big big grammer, introduce the miners to you chiefs and what have you and they will leave you and whatever they have signed for the companies and what the companies are giving them in return, they have taken their share and they are gone. And remember, an appointment is not forever”. “So, I am expecting that by now, we should have been talking about MOU been signed by the assembly and telling the people of Talensi what they intend to do for us in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years 20 years as they mine, so that we can track their activities. This is what they called, (we are learning from the past). But what they did, is the same thing. The repeated has been happening. Those coming to chief created an impression that they are the best, but they can’t be at the site to know the damage and how activities will affect the people on the ground. That is the situation we are still confronted with” “You see, the companies they have mentioned their names apart from I think Cardinal Resource that am aware that they had their own concession. ”This company that they went to visit for instance… Why are we doing this to ourselves? You see, the regional minister mislead the sector minister. Because we all know that where he went and met EARL is not for EARL. Shaanxi is no more Shaanxi because Shaanxi should have even moved their things long ago. You see, in all these happenings, I blamed Yenyeya, I still don’t know what they are waiting for. They are your employees, you didn’t even need to wait for these people to come and write to them to leave because the law is no more working. Once you have been told to demobilize and leave, so be it. EARL claimed they have paid compensation to other people close to 16 square acre, you should have gone to meet them there. Do you meet Cardinal Resource in somebody’s concession? He questioned And you see, the matter is at court concerning certain unfilled agreements they have not done and you the Regional Minister requested for an out of court settlement, you are now the Chief arbitrator of this case and you know that there is an injunction that no one should enter the place and no one should use the place. So, how then did you the Chief arbitrator get up and be following one party? When you know that we have not solved the problem, the problem is not been solved, we have not finished. For me, I will advise Yenyeya, they should go back to the court because, the way and manner the chief arbitrator is acting, I don’t think they will get any fair treatment from him. They should go back