Earl International Group (GH) Gold LTD to pay US$ 273,000.00 for non-compliance with Environmental Permit conditions
Mining

Earl International Group (GH) Gold LTD to pay US$ 273,000.00 for non-compliance with Environmental Permit conditions

“Begin the construction of a designed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) before the date of expiry of the TSF permit issued to the company. The construction must be done in line with the standard requirement and procedures as spelt out in the condition of the TSF Permit issued by the Agency”. Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited a large-scale mining Company operating in Gbane a community in the Talensi District of the Upper East is in trouble again this time for non-compliance with EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. The Company has been tasked by EPA to pay an amount of Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand United State Dollars (US$ 273,000.00) or its Cedi equivalent using daily selling interbank exchange rate as administrative charges for non-compliance of Environmental Permit conditions within one month from the date of the letter in line with the Fees and Charges (Amendment) Instrument, 2019 (LI 2386). Apexnewsgh.com report “Notify the Agency of the commencement of the TSF construction where a third party shall be jointly chosen by both the Agency and the company to be present throughout the entire duration of the construction stages of the designed TSF.Notify the Agency after the construction of the TSF is completed, for the Agency to carry out a thorough inspection before any material can be pumped into the facility”.“Cease the construction of any further illegal temporal tailing’s storage facility/facilities”. “Post the long overdue Reclamation Bond as security for the decommissioning and rehabilitation of disturbed areas associated with your company’s Underground Mining and Processing Project In line with Regulation 23 of the Environmental Assessment Regulation, 1999 (LI 1652). The quantum of the Bond to be posted for the Underground Mining and Processing Project is Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand and Ninety-Eight United State Dollars (US$658,098.00) as presented in the approved Environmental Impact statement of November 2020 in an Escrow Account between your company and the Agency. Twenty percent (20%) of this Bond amounting to One Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty United State Dollars (US$ 131, 620) shall be paid in cash and the remaining eighty percent (80%), in Bank Guarantee.Consistently submit without fail Monthly Environmental Monitoring Returns to the Agency taking cognizance of the Akoben Criteria of Compliance, Surveillance and Control sampling points for water, air and noise. “Desist from the discharge of any water from within the enclosed premises of your operation to the external environment without prior approval from the Agency”. “Immediately begin the processes of acquiring environmental permits for all other ancillary facilities/infrastructure of your operations which are not covered by the previously issued environmental permits”. “Submit a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for your operation to the Agency. These were captured in the EPA’s sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited dated 29th November 2022 which was intercepted by Apexnewsgh.com. The letter says, “In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 490, 1994 and the Environmental Assessment Regulations Legislative Instrument, 1999 LI 1652, the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a compliance monitoring of your operations on the 11th and 15th of November 2022 at Gbane in the Talensi District”. “While the Agency was satisfied with some aspects of your Company’s compliance to conditions of the Environmental Permits (Underground Mining & Processing and Tailings Storage Facility- TSF) issued to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane, the Agency was grossly dissatisfied with several other occasions of non-compliance to EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. Chief among them were the non-posting of Reclamation Bonds for Underground Mining and Processing and TSF, six (6) months after the issuance of EPA permits, and the illegal construction of unapproved and sub-standard temporal tailings storage facilities without the Agency’s notice, among others”. The letter pointed However, the intercepted EPA sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited further cautioned the Company to comply. “As a result, the Agency is requesting Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane to strictly and immediately comply with the following conditions as outlined in the attachment labeled Attachment A. Failure to comply with all the conditions in Attachment A, will result in an immediate and outright suspension of operations. EPA Cautioned Meanwhile, the letter signed by the EPA Regional Director for the Executive Director was copied to the Upper East Regional Minister, the Talensi District Chief Executive, The EPA Executive Director, Director, Mining Department EPA-Accra and EPA Legal Officer, Northern Zone, Kumasi. More to come soon Source: Apexnewsgh.com/GhanaFor publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Ghanaians can apply and get mining license with their phones at the comfort of their homes –Dr. Krugu
Politics

Ghanaians can apply and get mining license with their phones at the comfort of their homes –Dr. Krugu

The National Coordinator for Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) Dr. John Kingsley Krugu has said, the era cumbersome and difficult process of acquiring a mining license is gone. Speaking on Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Apexnews Ghana’s flagship developmental programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Dr. Krugu, the move is a long-term sustainable intervention that the government brought on board. Giving little history the how it started, Dr. said: “If you remember when his Excellency took in his second term, he called for a national dialogue, and Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor took it up and organize those dialogue and one of the key findings that came out of that dialogue was that a lot of people want to get licenses to do small-scale mining but because the process of getting those licenses are cumbersome and difficult, which is one of the reasons people will go and do it illegal and if you look at it, it makes sense that Stephen, if you were to wake up one day and they tell you behind your back yard there is gold and you need money and then, you looked at this gold and somebody say no, you have to go through a very long process in order to get a license to back and mine that gold, I think rationally, what you would do is to get a pickaxe and start digging. So, that finding came out from the national dialogue and the regional dialogue”. He said: “one of the orders that were given to us is to simplify the process of Ghanaians getting a license. The interesting thing is that small-scale mining is only the preserve of Ghanaians. No foreigner can get a small-scale mining license. So, the demand we have was to work out to simplify that process so that every single Ghanaian who wants to engage in small-scale mining activities can get the license and once you get the license, then you come under the regulation of the Mineral Commission, you come under the regulation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you come under the supervision of Water Resources Commission and all of that will prevent what we are seeing and we are not all happy”. We have worked to already simplify that, the Mineral Commission has done a very fantastic job and with support from my office, recently I was in Bolga where we trained small-scale miners on how any Ghanaian can sit in the comfort of their home as long as they have access to the internet whether, on their phone or laptop, they can apply and get a license and do mining.Right now as we speak, you can go to the Mineral Commission website, there is a link called the MINING CADASTRE ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM (MCAS) and if you click it, it will take you to a place that says APPLY. He explained “When we finish this, one more step and we call it a one-stop shop. We want to put the EPA, Water Resources, and Mineral Commission all on that Common platform. So, in the future, there will be no need of carrying files from one Agency to another. All of that discourages people from doing the right thing”. He revealed So, that is the kind of long-term sustainable intervention that the government is doing, with a such move, in 10 years’ time, we don’t need to come back and talk about the issue we are talking about. Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EPA Boss Imports UN-Banned Poisonous Chemical Into Ghana Henry Kwabena Kokofu
Opinion

EPA Boss Imports UN-Banned Poisonous Chemical Into Ghana

Details are emerging that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry KwabenaKokofu, has imported an internationally banned chemical into the country, on the instructions of a foreign country for the treatment of teak wood to be shipped to India. The chemical, Bromomethane, commonly known as methyl bromide, is described as a highly toxic substance, which all United Nations-recognized countries, agreed to ban under the 1987 Montreal Protocol. However, an agreement dated September 2, 2021, and sighted by The Herald, reveals that Ghana’s EPA, has granted authorization to a company called Q&Q Services for the importation and provision of technical assistance on the methyl bromide. Financial Proceeds from the importation, sell and use of the banned substances, will be shared on 50-50 basis between the company and the EPA. Q&Q Services company Ltd, is said to be an Indian company based in Tema. The substance was banned, because it dissipates rapidly into the atmosphere, it is most dangerous at the fumigation site. Human exposure to high concentrations of methyl bromide, can cause central nervous system and respiratory system failures and can harm the lungs, eyes, and skin. It was described as colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas produced both industrially and biologically, and recognized as an ozone-depleting chemical. In Ghana, the substance was banned in 2015. Yet the EPA CEO, has allowed the importation of the dangerous chemical into the country on the request of the government of India, to have teak wood from Ghana treated with the banned chemical, before shipment to that country at a time the world is discussing measures to take against climate change and global warming. India, has banned the substance from being used in that country, because of how dangerous it is. The agreement, said Q & Q Services is located at Community 7, Tema in the Greater Accra Region, and described as “The Service Provider” acting through its representative Mr James Rajamani. It described “Methyl bromide” as “a fumigant used in controlling pests in agriculture as one of the controlled substances identified by the Montreal Protocol, as an ozone depleting substance and was therefore phased out by Ghana in 2015, under the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Product Regulations of 2015”. “However, the Protocol allows for critical use of methyl bromide for quarantine and pre-shipment. Critical use exemptions are exceptions to the phase out of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting substance restricted by the Montreal Protocol. Ghana received a directive from the government of India requiring that all raw Teak products exported to India must be fumigated with Methyl Bromide”. “Ghana, therefore has to rely on the critical use exemption under the protocol to comply with Indian’s directive as the chemical is banned for use in the country. The Q & Q SERVICES Limited is a professional quality management Service Provider and its services include the provision of Cargo Inspection, Fumigation Services, Factory and Warehouse Audits, Loading and Discharging Supervision, Laboratory and Quality Testing Services and many more”. It disclosed that “the Company per a letter dated 16th June, 2021, made an application to EPA for a permit to use Methyl Bromide for the Pre-Shipment Fumigation of wood, wood products and cashew nuts in compliance with the trade requirement of fumigating products before export to India; The Agency in accordance with the requirements of Section 28 of Act 490 and the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Product Regulations, 2005, (LI I 8 12) and the critical use exceptions granted under the protocol, EPA granted provisional approval to the Company for restricted use of Methyl Bromide for wood, wood products and cashew nuts subject to the key conditions stipulated in the permit; The approval is valid for one year and may be renewed upon satisfactory performance and compliance with permit conditions such as the implementation of safety measures among others to safeguard human health and the environment. In addition, the EPA, would provide technical guidance and continuous monitoring and surveillance to ensure compliance. The parties, have agreed that in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the critical use exemptions of the Protocol, including the stringent reporting and monitoring requirements by Ghana, the EPA is collaborating with the company by providing technical assistance and continuous and consistent monitoring subject to a percentage share of the profit after cost. It said that, “the EPA will conduct continuous and consistent monitoring of the fumigation processes at the warehouses to ensure that at the end of the fumigation process the company does not emit the residual substances but capture the residual substances using Best Available Technology”. “The EPA shall during its monitoring processes check the volume of controlled substances imported, volume used and volume remaining to aid Ghana in fulfilling its reporting obligations under the Montreal Protocol and the Multilateral Fund”. “The EPA will collaborate with the company to create awareness and educate all the company’s workforce to ensure that chemical is used correctly to prevent excess exposure to the workers, during and after the operations and also to the adjourning communities”. The company’s obligation will be to “provide methyl bromide fumigation services using Best Available Technology that recycle or trap Methyl Bromide thus preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere”. “The company will prepare and submit to the EPA, an Environmental Management Plan outlining standard operating procedures and mitigation measures to ensure that the fumigation activity does not impact on the environment, surrounding communities and human health”, the agreement said. It said that “the company is aware that the Methyl Bromide is banned for use in Ghana and the company’s application was considered for restricted use ONLY. The company therefore undertakes to use only trained personnel for the fumigation activity under direct monitoring by EPA. The company further undertakes to implement measures and procedures to meet strict criteria governing safe handling, storage and use of the methyl bromide, to reduce exposure potential. Shall engage Ghanaian staff and contractors, where the appropriate level of experience and expertise is available in Ghana”. “The company

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Akufo-Addo deploys 200 soldiers to stop galamsey in water bodies
Opinion

Akufo-Addo deploys 200 soldiers to stop galamsey in water bodies

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has authorised the Ghana Armed Forces to commence an operation to remove all persons and logistics involved in mining from the country’s water bodies. The operation commenced today, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 on the River Pra in the Central Region. Two hundred officers of the Ghana Armed Forces are involved in the operations. The Ministry of Defense and the Ghana Armed Forces are expected to provide a detailed briefing of developments on the operation on Friday, 30 April 2021. These were contained in a statement from the Information Ministry signed by sector minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Below is the full statement: In furtherance of the resolutions of the final communiqué, of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on April 14 -15, 2021 and to ensure that mining within water bodies is immediately stopped; the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has authorised the Ghana Armed Forces, to commence an operation, to remove all persons and logistics involved in mining from Ghana’s water bodies. The operation commenced at 0600 hours on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 on the River Pra in the Central and Western regions of Ghana. Two Hundred (200) officers of the Ghana Armed Forces are involved in the operation. The Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed forces will provide a detailed brief of developments and sustainability efforts at 1200 hours on Friday 30th April 2021. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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UER: Basket dealers and exporters appeals for legal backing to against intrusion
Business

UER: Basket dealers and exporters appeals for legal backing to against intrusion

Strong Straw Basket Dealers and Exporter Foundation have called on the government to enact a legal document to will regulate the sector to boost growth and prevent foreign intrusion. The basket business is the main viable economic venture of the people in the region however of late individuals mostly foreigners who are not associated with any basket dealers or export organization are trooping into the market to buy the baskets directly from the weavers without any regulations or restriction. The phenomenon, they say is affecting the progress of the business and their livelihood is being taken over by foreigners. The Chairman of Strong Straw Basket Dealers and Exporters Association Ayezeriba Agana who made the call at the official launch of the association at Craft Village in Bolgatanga says the sector employs over thousand people mostly women and the youth and therefore pragmatic measures needs to be taken to protect their business. The Bolgatanga Basket has attracted far more foreign exchange into the country than any other product from the North. Unfortunately, this unique and exclusive product from the north has not received the necessary attention that it deserves from authorities and the industry is largely unregulated. There have been numerous complaint of fraud from foreign buyers of Straw Baskets from the Upper East to the effect that people have received monies from them with promise of supplying baskets which they never got while others complained of poor quality of baskets from imposter who are not recognized by the association causing foreign buyers to lose interest in the Bolgatanga Baskets.  The Association Chairman Ayezeriba Agana indicated that the association is seeking the endorsement and support of stakeholders especially local government authorities to apply all laws aimed at protecting and promoting the local businesses that will help Assemblies to collect the needed taxes on all baskets. In a speech read on her behalf the Upper East Regional Minister Madam Tangoba Abayege urged the dealers, producers and exporters in the Basket sector to collaborate with stakeholders such as Ghana Export Promotion Authority GEPA, Ghana Tourism Authority and the National Board for Small Scale industries to improve on the quality and address challenges confronting the industries. For his part the Upper East and Upper West Zonal Coordinator of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority Martin Akogti observed baskets is one of the non-traditional exports contributing immensely to the growth of the economy saying efforts should be made to protect the businesses for the local people. The Basket can easily be referred to as the Cocoa of the Upper East Region due to the critical role the production and sale has had on the people. Sadly because the industry has not received the needed attention neighboring countries like Burkina Faso buys the Baskets from Bolgatanga send them to their country to label them and export them as Burkina Baskets. In much the same way Asian countries like Vietnam produce a replica of Bolgatanga Baskets and call them Vietnam Basket. The strong Baskets Dealers and Export is therefore calling on authorities to pay attention to the industry. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Contributor Prosper Adaakai Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications.  

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