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
Anatomy of the Billionaire Monster called Shaanxi
When the forces of darkness seek to cover up what the people must know, it is the duty of those who bear the torch to expose it by shedding light on it without compromise. Many fatal accidents have happened needlessly to Ghanaians in the Shaanxi mine at Gbane in the Talensi District. The Chinese-owned company is never comfortable with these accidents being reported. The company will do anything behind the scenes to block the public from knowing about the accidents or any ills. Each time an accident occurs, they cook a highly spiced impression on air that all is well for the public to consume; with a great lie-telling talent, they try to downplay an earthquake as a mere handshake. That is not the reality behind the curtains. This allows the tragedies to continue to strike episodically at the mine, the major and regular casualties being the Ghanaian employees wearing the blue collar― the labourers. I remember, around the middle of 2018― the month of May, precisely― four mineworkers collapsed after inhaling a toxic gas that emanated from an explosive blasted by Shaanxi, and another Ghanaian, on same day, had a part of his leg ripped off like when the skin of an orange is peeled off deep with a sharp knife. The company’s PRO (Maxwell Wooma) scrambled to block the story from being told. He sent an SMS to me. John Peter Amewu was the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources at the time. The SMS from the Shaanxi PRO reads: “Good afternoon Sir. I have heard of your encounter with some accident victims of my company. I have been on leave but informed slenderly [sic] about the issue. Notwithstanding, I, in the name of our God, please [sic] with you to stamp it out from your list of stories to as usual, aid a brother. It is because of you I am. I am on my way to accra [sic] to meet the Hon Sector minister on developments in my mine. What a slap it will be to reach there seeing him fuming at me. I will do all I can to ensure safety issues are taken more seriously to protect our brothers. As usual, one for all, all for one. God help in your decision making and bless you for taking same. Regards.” Sending such a message to me, where we are talking about human lives being at risk, is a complete waste of time. The story was published: https://starrfm.com.gh/2018/05/ue-r-disaster-strikes-shaanxi-mines-again/. In the text message you just read, the PRO says he will do all he can to ensure safety issues are taken more seriously. In other words, he means safety issues were being taken less seriously until he knew a story was going to be published about the then-latest accident. But the same PRO had consistently and confidently told the public that the company was committed to the safety of the workers with a tone that suggested that the safety of the labourers was on the company’s front burner or was one of the company’s prioritised concerns. An example of that regular commitment statement is found in the last paragraph of this link: https://www.a1radioonline.com/16975/no-disaster-shaanxi-mines-management/index.html. He probably forgot he had sent a text message which rather exposes the disturbing reality hidden from the public. He needs only to say there was no such text message and I will put a screenshot of it here with his phone number captured with it. The Cash meant to suppress a Dark Secret There is another example, which many already know about, telling you how Shaanxi will do anything behind the scenes to cover up the realities. A Minister of State at the Presidency, Rockson Ayine Bukari, pleaded with me to not publish an investigative story about some secret meetings that took place between Shaanxi and Justice Jacob Bawine Boon, a judge formerly at the High Court One in Bolgatanga. Shaanxi was having a case against another foreign mining company (Cassius, from Australia) before Justice Boon at the time and Shaanxi officials had gone to his (Justice Boon’s) residence where I caught them four times meeting with the judge on separate days between November and December, 2018. The next thing was an attempt to block the story from being told to the public. They brought cash. They brought a new motorbike of the latest brand. And they promised to bring more. They said the cash and the motorbike package was just the beginning only if I would not tell the public about the meetings between Shaanxi and Justice Boon. I was told the CEO of Shaanxi, Xing Wei, was the 9th richest man in all of China, the most populous nation on Earth. I also heard he was (and probably still is) the fifth foreign investor in America in terms of asset size. I placed more value on being true to Journalism (by telling the public what they should know) than what somebody else definitely would do― to take the cash, ask for more, kill the story, win the hearts of the billionaire monster and those who support them and enjoy a threat-free life with his or her family. I could count about four journalists in the Upper East Region who I can trust will not take a bribe to kill a story and I could name two local radio stations in the region that will not support any oppressor and neglect the outcry of the oppressed. A Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice at the time, who applauded how I handled the matter by putting the public interest first, told me the findings were so damning I could have “built three mansions” from the company if I had wanted to take advantage of that top-secret scandal by killing the story. Justice Boon, when the cover was blown, admitted before lawyers on Monday December 17, 2018, to having those ex-parte (one-sided) meetings with Shaanxi officials at his residence and had no choice but to recuse (disqualify) himself from the case: https://starrfm.com.gh/2018/12/judge-recuses-himself-as-shaanxi-officials-attempt-to-bribe-journalist/ The case was remitted as a result of the recusal (disqualification)
Minerals Commission withdraws Shaanxi’s registration, orders it to leave sites at once
Ghana’s Minerals Commission has withdrawn Chinese-owned Shaanxi Mining (Ghana) Ltd’s mine support service registration and ordered it to vacate the mining sites of its local business partners in the Upper East Region, Yenyeya Mining Group and Pubortaaba Mining Group, with immediate effect. Although the notice was formally issued last month, the letter― dated 17th August, 2021― was intercepted by Starr News only on Wednesday. Whilst the directive, which appears to have been kept under wraps until now, may prove to be the latest thorn in Shaanxi’s flesh, fresh reactions from a few who have also sighted the letter strongly suggest that there is even more action ahead against a company that has dominated headlines in the West African state for mining-related deaths and injuries for years. Some opinion leaders, who say they want their names mentioned only when the promised action begins in front of media cameras, say they are going to mobilise people in Talensi, the district where the Chinese have been operating since 2008, to force the company out from the 50-acre piece of land if it delays further than allowed in checking out as ordered by the Commission. They did not mention when they would do it but they said it would not be done without notifying police. “We refer to your company’s registration as a mine support service with the Minerals Commission. We note that your company has been providing contract mining services to Yenyeya Mining Group [now known as Yenyeya Mining Company] and Pubortaaba Mining Group which are located at Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region since 2009. In the period after 2012, the Minerals Commission continued to renew your company’s registration because of Regulation 2(3) of the Minerals and Mining (Support Services) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2174). “Unfortunately, the Commission cannot continue to renew your company’s registration because of the coming into force of the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2431) which has reserved contract mining services for small-scale mining operations for Ghanaians. We are therefore by this letter withdrawing your registration as a mine support service company with effect from the date of this letter. You are advised to arrange to demobilise from the sites of the two small-scale mining licence holders with immediate effect,” says the one-page letter, signed by the Commission’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martin Kwaku Ayisi. Shaanxi changes termination date after receiving quit order The letter dispatched to Shaanxi made it clear that the company’s registration as a mine support service provider was being withdrawn with effect from the very day the letter was written― 17th August, 2021. The letter also directed the company to “demobilise from the sites…with immediate effect”. But ten days later, Shaanxi wrote to Yenyeya, informing its partner about the Commission’s directive, but giving a termination date different from what the Commission had stipulated. The letter the Minerals Commission wrote to Shaanxi. “I have been directed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shaanxi Mining (Ghana) Limited to inform you in relation to the aforesaid subject matter [Withdrawal of Registration as a Mine Support Service Company]. Per the content of the letter we shall attach to this letter, by operation of law, our Mine Support Service to you which culminated in a contract dated 24th September, 2008, between the aforesaid company and your group, has been terminated. “By reason of that, we wish to inform you that, by 1st September, 2021, we shall cease operation as providing Mine Support Service. The content of this letter does not however terminate any rights and obligations that existed between our company and your good self prior to the termination of the Mine Support Service. On behalf of the CEO, I thank you for the opportunity and cooperation that you accorded us during these years,” said the company’s Managing Director, Ryan Lee, in the letter, dated 27th August, 2021. At present, Shaanxi and Yenyeya are locked in a serious legal battle at the High Court One in Bolgatanga, the Upper East regional capital. In 2008, the wealthy Chinese firm arrived in the district at Yenyeya’s invitation to render mine support service to its twin hosts, Yenyeya and Pubortaaba. Yenyeya and its foreign partner had worked closely since then until Shaanxi, after reportedly taking root in Ghana’s mining industry through the aid of some “powerful figures” in the country, announced a plan recently to go solo into a large-scale mining business. Shaanxi’s letter to Yenyeya Shaanxi intends to do the new business under a new name― “Earl International Group (GH) Gold Mining Limited”. And it is reported that the clash between the two partners erupted after Yenyeya’s Ghanaian-born Managing Director (MD), Charles Taleog Ndanbon, learned that the Chinese (his guests or ‘tenants’) had planned to acquire licence and permit for the sought-after large-scale mining business, to end their partnership with him and to take over his concession and some nearby concessions. So, the Yenyeya boss headed to court. And in his Statement of Claim, he wants the court to declare that Shaanxi had breached the agreement it had with Yenyeya. He also wants the court to call for the appointment of “an independent professional auditor” to audit the “mining operations and other related activities” carried out from 2008 to date inside the Yenyeya Mining Company’s concession. And he wants the court to place “a perpetual injunction” stopping “Earl International Group (GH) Gold Mining Limited from doing “illegal mining and related activities” in his concession and from entering the concession until the case is over, among other reliefs. Months ago, the lawyers for the Chinese company told Justice Charles Wilson Adjei’s High Court One that they wanted the matter settled outside the courtroom. The out-of-court settlement process, being facilitated by the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, saw the representatives of the Chinese company absent in the first meeting, according to Yenyeya’s Public Relations Officer, Jarvis Avoka, in a press statement. The mediation efforts arrived at a decision in a subsequent meeting (the Chinese
YENYEYA Mining Company Ltd accepts out-of-court settlement with these conditions…
Management of Yenyeya Mining Company Ltd, an indigenous mining company at the Gbane Community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region said, he has accepted the offer by the Shaanxi and Earl International lawyers for an out of court settlement with the condition that Wei Xing, Chief Executive Officer of Shaanxi and Earl International be present and that Yenyeya’s acceptance of offer for settlement out of court for consideration be on the agenda for discussion and resolution. “YENYEYA has accepted this offer on condition that Wei Xing, CEO of SHAANXI and EARL INTERNATIONAL be present, and that YENYEYA’s acceptance of offer for settlement out of court for consideration be on the agenda for discussion and resolution. This document can be viewed on request. We hope and believe that the parties related to this matter will take decisions in the interest of peace and justice without impairing or destroying the right or interest of the local small-scale miners”. The statement said Meanwhile, in June 2021, management of the Yenyeya Mining Limited, accused a Chinese Mining firm, Shaanxi Mining (Ghana) Limited for engaging illegally mining in their concession. The two registered Small Scale Mining therefore called on the state entities responsible for the mining sector to ensure that they dig into the matter to avoid bloodshed in the area. However, according to a press statement issued by Yenyeya acting Public Relation Officer (PRO) Jarvis Avoka sighted by Apexnews Ghana, Yenyeya remains committed to due process and will continue to have faith in the courts to enforce the parties’ respective obligations to which they agreed and bind themselves though we have reason to believe that the defendants are unduly wasting time and seeking to frustrate justice and equity. Below is the full press release: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093