Government to release E&P mining equipment - Peter Amewu

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Peter John Amewu, has said that government will soon release mining equipment belonging to Engineers and Planners (E&P), owned by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of ex-President John Dramani Mahama, whose firm was subcontracted to do bauxite prospecting.

According to Mr. Amewu, he was aware the equipment had not been released.

He, however, said that he will consult the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, under whose instructions security officials seized the equipment, after which the company will be allowed access to the heavy duty equipment.

“The processes leading to the seizure of equipment… of course I need to talk to my colleague regional minister and then the equipment will be released,” he said.

The company explained that per the contractual arrangement with Engineers and Planners, the cost per day for the total equipment, consisting of eight trucks, one caterpillar generator and two container offices in police custody, is GHS61, 615.00 which has resulted in huge losses of revenue to the firm.

Meanwhile, Mr. Amewu has revealed that the mining lease in possession of Exton Cubic Group Limited was null and void, following the company’s failure to abide by laws relating to the licence and some statutory infractions.

“Act 703 section 87 grants the minister the procedure for revoking of licence and what that law says is that if for any reason the minister is satisfied that the company has failed to abide by the terms and conditions of the licence or a requirement applicable to the licence then the minister has the right under the clause 87 to terminate.

“The infractions have been carefully analysed and it has been established that if it falls short of the procedural mechanisms that allow grant of lease and so that calls for the [invalidation],” he explained.