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
The disappointment witnessed by President at Katanga Agenda 111 is a blessing to us—NPP Communication
The Navrongo constituency Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Moses Amoah has described President Akufo-Addo’s visit to the Agenda 111 in Katanga a community in Zaurungu of the Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region as a blessing. As part of President Akufo-Addo’s itinerary for his one-day tour to the Upper East Region on the 5th of August, he visits Katanga a community in the Bolgatanga East District just after commissioning the Tono water expansion project in Navrongo. But sadly, it appears President Akufo-Addo’s mood automatically changed immediately after he arrived at the site scene and saw what looks like foundation-level work already done by the contractor in charge and he angrily went back straight to RCC residence. However, reacting to the issue on Apexnewsgh.com’s SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST REGION programme, Mr. Amoah said: “I can tell you that President’s movement to Bolga East was a blessing to us”. According to him, “President saw the lackadaisical attitude the contractor was exhibiting at the site, he saw it very clearly. This one is not about someone telling President that this contractor is not doing this or that, the President saw it with his eyes. And you saw that when the President got there, he wasn’t happy, he was angry and that is a positive response. When you have a President getting to a venue and probably leaves with anger, it tells you the person’s expectation”. “The President expected that by the time he got there, the project should have been at a different level but unfortunately, that wasn’t where he met it and that is even a blessing. Now that the President saw the project at that level when he goes back, he will streamline things”. He concluded Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
NPP Communicator maintained work at Pawlugu Multi-purpose dam is currently ongoing despite…
A member of the Upper East Regional Communication team of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Moses Amoah has refuted the claim that the Pawlungu Multi-Purpose dam is currently halted. According to the information from some media outlets, CSOs, and some respected citizens in the region who have visited the site, they said workers at the site scene have packed all their materials out from the site. In fact, an NDC communicator during a programme described the state of the current site scene as a grazing yard, stressing that nothing is happening. However, responding to the claim that workers at the Pawlugu site can no longer be found, Mr. Amoah agrees with the fact that “there have been some delays in the project and all of us are not happy but the groundwork has started and the government is committed. He stressed According to him, “As we speak, work is currently ongoing at the Pwalungu Multi-Purpose dam, the relocation process is ongoing, and quantity surveyors are there probably looking at how they can pay compensation to people, they are looking at how they move a different community to another community. He claimed “We have to move it from the rhetoric, we are even better. The NDC came and diverted funds that were secured by Former President Kufour from the Brazilian government to Eastern Corridor road so we are even better. As we speak, there is an office located in Tema for the pawlungu Multi-purpose dam”. Meanwhile, on November 29th, 2019, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency (H.E.) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cut the sod for the construction of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam Project. The project, which is the single largest investment ever made in the Northern part of Ghana, and is estimated to cost US$993 million, would consist of a Hydro-Solar hybrid system of 60 MW Hydro Power and 50 MW Solar Power. The Multi-Purpose Dam, expected to be completed in four years, would control the perennial flooding in the Northern regions caused by heavy rains and the spillage from the Bagre Dam. Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
We did our best in creating awareness—Upper East Region NADMO Director.
The Upper East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Jerry Asamani has refuted claims by some affected farmers that NADMO did not create any awareness ahead of the 2022 Bagre dam spillage. The spillage was done on September 1, 2022 So far, the Bagre dam has destroyed a number of acres of farmland and farm produce ranging from Maize, yellow melon, groundnut, rice and so on. Meanwhile, these affected farmers have blamed the loss of their farm produce along the water route as a result of NADMO’s inability to create awareness on the possible period and time the Bagre dam will be spilled. Responding to the above allegation when Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com contacted him on “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST REGION” development programme, Mr. Asamanisaid, as for information, he thinks they at NADMO have done enough. According to him “We make sure that coordinators went from house to house in the area and along the river banks. Those complaining, it is possible our area coordinators might have gotten to the house and the landlord wasn’t there or someone wasn’t there to get the information from my coordinators. But that does not mean we didn’t inform them. We spoke to the Chiefs, we spoke to opinion leaders, and we had formerly written to Ghana Education to provide us with their schools in case the people are misplaced” “Is a yearly affair, so anytime the Bagre dam to begin rise that is when we begin to educate the people around. Radio station gives us airtime to educate the communities around the route, even to an extent that we stationed NADMO officials at every official and non-official cross, to advise people not to cross because when they spilled the dam, the water comes without sound. So, our people were at various stations to advise people to use the approved bridges like Kobore and Pawlunge bridges”. He stressed “I won’t begrudge anybody who didn’t have time to listen to the radio or listen to their chiefs but we did our best to educate the people”. He said Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
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