Some excavators used for illegal mining (file photo)
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of F.A. Minerals, a licensed Small Scale Mining Company, Mr Francis Awuku has debunked accusations that he paid bribes to officials of the Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly to facilitate the release of his mining equipment.
It was recently reported on abusuafmonline.com that the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Kwanwoma District, Nana Okyere Tawiah Antwi, his Coordinating Director and District Finance Officer (DFO) received about GHC700, 000 to as bribes in order to release the mining equipment that had been confiscated and parked at the Assembly.
But in an interview with Mr. Francis Awuku he explained that he applied to the Assembly to release his excavators, which have been parked at Foase for safety after receiving intelligence that some unscrupulous persons were planning to burn them if the Assembly decided to relocate the machines to Twedie, the newly disputed capital of the District in the raging controversy.
According to him, he only paid evacuation fees to the assembly for the release of the confiscated excavators which he says doesn’t amount to payment of bribe.
He however indicated that he had receipts of the evacuation fee he paid the Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly for the release of his ceased excavators which was reported to have belonged to some Chinese miners.
