Mahama administration signed bauxite mining lease for Exton Cubic - Abronye DC

Maverick politician and Brong Ahafo regional youth organizer for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe also known as Abronye DC, has alleged that, the previous Mahama administration signed the mining lease for Exton Cubic group to mine bauxite on the 29th of December 2016; days after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost the general elections.

"That was in clear breach of the Transition Act," he said in an interview with Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm.

He also hinted he will be going back to the court to restrain Exton Cubic Group from prospecting bauxite at Nyinanhin in the Ashanti Region.

He claims there were lapses in the concession agreement signed between the erstwhile Mahama government and the company on December 29, 2016, saying the agreement did not indicate Parliamentary approval of the bauxite prospecting.

Equipment belonging to E&P was impounded by the police under the behest of the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah after it was subcontracted by Exton Cubic Group to prospect for bauxite at Nyinanhini.

There was a contradiction between the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu and Ashanti regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah who has refused to hand over the equipment until he sees the documentation to that effect.

The former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills has said that there was an oversight on seeking Parliamentary approval for the bauxite prospecting when they signed the agreement with Engineers and Planners.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a statement indicating that Exton Cubic Mining Company has not be given clearance at the mining site.

Though the Exton Cubic applied for a permit to undertake the prospecting of bauxite in the area; it failed to comply with EPA regulations rendering the permits null and void.

In a statement from EPA, it said, “the bottom line is that Exton Cubic Group Limited has not obtained the required EPA permit under its mining lease and therefore, any attempt to enter the area for mining is illegal”.