Exton Cubic bauxite controversy: We aren’t sleeping on our job - EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied claims it has been reneging on its duties to protect the environment after it was revealed that Exton Cubic Group Limited has no license to mine at Nyinihi Bauxite concession in the Ashanti Region.

EPA recently has come under public criticism after the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, led residents of Atwima Mponua to seize mining equipment which was on its way to the Nyinahin bauxite concession.

“What happened is it that when you are given permit you choose to comply with a certain conditions within three months. …so if they haven’t done it I wouldn’t mean we are asleep”, EPA Public Relations Officer (PRO) stated.

“Not that we do not have monitoring team in place, if they [Exton Cubic Group Limited] have written to us we could have done monitoring review”, Madam Angelina Tutuaah explained on Starr FM lauding the residents.

“We want to say thank you to the people and the media for alerting us..It came to us a surprise when we first heard it in the news”, she disclosed.

“Immediately we are alerted we then have to take an action”, Madam Angelina Tutuaah Mensah pointed out in an interview with host, Bernard Nasara Saibu.

According to her, there is nothing wrong for the citizenry to also show commitment to protect the environment which should not be misconstrued to be ineffectiveness of the Agency.

“We want say thanks to the vigilance of the community and the media for also alerting us” Public Relations Officer (PRO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.