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
People of Upper East Region enemies of development, reasons why Upper West is ahead
:Written By Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Upper East is region blessed with wonderful places especially with lots of tourist attraction areas such as Paga crocodile pond, tono dam, pikworo slave camp, Upper east regional museum, tongo hill etc. But there is no doubt, is a region deprived of important developmental and social amenities such as Regional Airport, Regional Sports Stadium, Regional Hospital, Regional Passport Office, just to mention but few. It is becoming so worrying to its patriotic citizens who actually have started asking about the crime they have committed by voting and as well making recommendations for appointments for politicians from the region who will end up disappointing them by not using their positions and office to secure good developmental projects for the region they represent. According to the people of Upper East, a region that had the opportunity of having their own flesh and blood as the Ghana Minister for Youth and Sports under the NDC John Dramani Mahama administration, isn’t supposed to be crying for none availability of a Regional Sports Stadium in 2021, especially when such a big opportunity was missed by their own selves. Meanwhile, Upper West got their stadium with 5,000 capacity in 2006. And yet, just like ‘eve’ in the bible was created from the ribs of ‘Adam’ so was Upper West created from the ribs of Upper East. A region that had their own flesh and blood as the Ghana Aviation Minister during the first batch of President Akufo-Addo/Buwumia administration isn’t supposed to be crying for not having an airport in 2021, especially when such precious opportunity was used to play politics among the same beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the people of Upper West opened their airport for commercial flight operations in October 15, 2019 with service by Africa World Airlines from Accra via Tamale using an Embraer 145 regional jet. And yet, just like ‘eve’ in the bible was created from the ribs of ‘Adam’ so was Upper West created from the ribs of Upper East. As at the time of this publication, the people Upper East still risk their lives on a daily basis traveling to Tamale the Northern regional capital for their passport application and renewal. Meanwhile, the people of the Upper West Region commissioned their Passport Application Center (PAC) in 2020. This bringing the number of Passport Application Centers across the country to 13. And yet, just like ‘eve’ in the bible was created from the ribs of ‘Adam’ so was Upper West created from the ribs of Upper East. The Upper East Regional Hospital unlike other regions has become a political ring tone for the two main political parties NDC/NPP every election year. You will be amazed when listening to party communicators from both parties arguing on whose party contributed more than each other at the ongoing renovation work at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, 160-bed capacity Upper West Regional Hospital was made open to the general public in January 9, 2020, even after a little delay. Because President Akufo Addo earlier commissioned the US$ 52 million facility in August 2019. And yet, just like ‘eve’ in the bible was created from the ribs of ‘Adam’ so was Upper West created from the ribs of Upper East. What could be cause for the Upper East set back on development? Tribalism/Discrimination, political slavery, greed, hatred, self centered, giving positions non patriotic individuals, ethnicity superiority, literacy superiority and above all disunity were all captured as the real cause of Upper East Region set back on development. Those given opportunities must start thinking outside the box: When Mr. B goes into the office and he decides to do the same thing Mr. A was doing before leaving the office then, Mr. B is not thinking ‘OUTSIDE THE BOX’. In the Upper East Region, it appears development from the two main political parties NDC and NPP are not seeing much light of the day due to the spectacle both big parties are putting on for the region and this is a contributing factor affecting development in the region. Those from the region appointed into positions of MMDAs, regional and national must start thinking outside the box as far as development in the region is concerned. What one could describe as ‘political slavery’ is another canker bedeviling the people of the Upper East Region in terms of developmental projects, unlike some other regions such as Upper West where the people cherished development irrespective of the political party one belongs to. For the National Democratic Congress (NDC), their mentality on the ground as far as Upper East Region is also not helping matters when its comes to development. Because their mentality that the people of the Region vote for NDC come rain come shine because Upper East Region is NDC stronghold and whether they campaign or not they will surely win. Such mentality, is not helping the region in terms of development. Below is a typical example. A piece of published evidence which was reported on a local radio station A1 radio somewhere in November 23, 2020 “IF WE DON’T CAMPAIGN IN UPPER EAST, WE WILL STILL WIN – NDC SECRETARY” “The Upper East Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Donatus Akamugre Atanga, has expressed confidence that his party remains solid in the region to secure the endorsement of voters in the upcoming December 7 general elections; even if they don’t campaign in the region. “According to Mr. Akamugre, though the Upper East Region is considered a stronghold of the NDC, their continuous campaign in the region was to show appreciation to the people of the region for their undying support to the party; and not necessarily to canvas for votes”. So, this mentality by a respected Party Regional Secretary, also confirmed why development isn’t coming as expected in the region and why those elected to represent their constituencies and the region decide to sleep on their jobs. After all, whether they brought development or not next election they will come and