MP's decry military/police exercise in Prestea-Hemang

Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - Members of Parliament on Friday requested the House to institute investigations into the circumstances leading to the joint military and police exercise at Prestea to exit operators from

the concession of Golden Star Resources (GSR) Limited. They called on the Committee for Defence and Interior and Mines and Energy to meet quickly and examine the problems to avert any further clashes since it bordered on the livelihood of the people in the area. In a statement, on the attack of small scale mining operators in the Prestea-Hemang area, Mr. Albert K. Obbin, NPP- Prestea-HuniValley said the operation on Tuesday October, 2006 were concluded, with the seizure of their machines, pits sealed and huts destroyed.

Mr Obbin explained that GSR ordered the soldiers and police personnel to collect the tailings of small scale mines and dismantle their plant and though he requested GSR's general Manager to halt the action, 93 he ignored my advice 85 and they went ahead shooting five people in the process, by soldiers.=94

The people fiercely resisted the collection of their materials and tailings when the police descended on the area on December 5, 2006 with the help of soldiers, because they believed it was the product of their hard work and toil.

Mr. Obbin noted that some of the people involved have small scale mining licenses from the Minerals Commission and have concessions outside Bogoso Gold Limited's concessions and therefore could own processing plants and tailings.

=93This means that not all the tailings come from materials taken from GSR concession. Secondly, the core objectives was to stop the people working on their concessions which they have achived,=94 Mr Obbin said stressing, 93the latter action to collect their tailings and processing plants was unlawful and against the right of the people of Prestea and Hemang, Bogoso and Domase.=94

He expressed regret that the people of Prestea-Hemang have made a lot of sacrifices since the advent of GSR, but mining operations continued to be carried out right in the heart of towns and town centres resulting in noise and air pollution, cracks in buildings and constant blasting, not forgetting the loss of land and income. Mr Lee Ocran, NDC-Jomoro said it was rather strange that gold has brought foreigners into the country, but had become a factor for which Ghanaians are been driven from their lands, livelihoods and sheer existence.

He called for proper regulation to be put in place to ensure that the company and the community enjoy a conflict-free atmosphere and avoiding insecurity in the area.

Mr Alban S. Bagbin, Minority Leader described the events in Prestea-Hemang as 93chilling=94 saying: 93if I am insecure, then others are insecure. If the people in Prestea are insecure, then the companies operating in their localities will be insecure.=94 He said the communities cannot compromise their land, water and air and still be expected to find some other alternative for survival, indicating that, 93 this situation was not prevailing even under military regimes=94 and called the issue for the attention of the Ministries of Defence the Interior, Mines and Energy to respond to it. Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Majority Leader shared similar opinion and promised the Speaker of immediate action on the matter. Earlier, Mr Andrew Kingsford Mensah, NPP-Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese in a statement called for support for micro businesses in the citrus industry.

He mentioned Fruits and Flavour Company Limited, formerly L. Rose and Company Limited, which was established in 1936 and urged government to give it the support currently being enjoyed by companies such as the Ayensu Starch Factory in Bawjiase and the Oil Palm projects across the country. He asked government to be concerned about the prospects of lime farmers losing their livelihoods through proper management of a major agro-processing factory that has operated for well over half a century. =93It is worthy of note that such a situation is checked not to aggravate the already high poverty level in the area while making a success of government efforts at eradicating poverty in the country.=94 15 Dec. 06