Lands Minister hasn’t granted mining concessions to foreigners; Bole MP allegations baseless - Minerals Commission

The Minerals Commission has refuted allegations made by the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana, against the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, accusing him of granting mining concessions to foreign entities without proper consultation.

In a press statement issued on Monday, June 24, the Commission described these allegations as baseless and unfounded, asserting they should not be coming from a lawmaker.

The Commission emphasized that according to the Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176), no mineral rights can be granted without consulting the relevant persons and institutions affected by the mineral operations.

The Commission urged the public to disregard the false narrative being propagated by the MP.

Yusif Sulemana had accused Minister Jinapor and the Minerals Commission of bypassing proper consultation processes, which he claimed led to heightened tensions in the Bole-Bamboi constituency.

He further alleged that some NPP executives were assaulted by soldiers guarding the mining sites.

“It is an issue that we are all worried about. It’s on record that from the beginning of our constituency, which is Bamboi, and to the end of it, there are plenty of mineral companies on both the right and left sides of the road, and so, of course, we have some galamsey activities going on there.”

“Unfortunately, from February to date, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has allocated the lands to over 7 large-scale miners, and the problem was that there were no proper stakeholder consultations. And so the youth are there, and they will see heavy equipment coming to take over what they are doing, and that is where the clash is coming from," he alleged.

However, the Minerals Commission's statement reiterated its commitment to following legal and regulatory procedures in granting mineral rights, ensuring all relevant parties are consulted and given the opportunity to voice their concerns.

"The attention of the Minerals Commission (the Commission) has been drawn to publications in a section of the media, attributed to the Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency, Yusif Sulemana, accusing the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission of granting mining concessions to foreigners without proper consultations. The said accusations, claims, and/or allegations are false, baseless, and unfounded."

"The Commission wishes to state, categorically, that in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176), no mineral right is granted without consultation with the relevant persons and institutions to be affected by the mineral operation."

"Upon receipt of an application for a mineral right, notice of the application is published in the Gazette, and copies are served on the relevant landowner, Chief, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA), as well as other interested groups and stakeholders, to enable them to raise any concerns they may have," an excerpt of the statement said.