Political witch-hunt confirmed in Nyinahin bauxite brawl

To many, Dr. Toni Aubynn, was merely relieved of his duties as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, but investigations backed by documentary proof, have shown that his dismissal was part of a grand scheme by government elements to prevent Exton Cubic Group from entering the Bauxite Concession at Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

A mail cited by The Herald confirms that, Dr. Aubynn and his team of senior officers at the Minerals Commission, were to visit the Mine Development Site of Exton Cubic Group at Nyinahin on Thursday 24, 2017, for inspection of the Bauxite Concession site, but four days before the propose site visit, he was sacked.

The email which is available to The Herald, was sent to Augustus Amegashie of Exton Cubic, the Project Geologist to enable the company prepare the site for inspection by the experts from Minerals Commission.

The mail, written by Jerry Ahadji, the Assistant Manager, Sectoral Policy and Planning at the Minerals Commission on behalf of Dr. Aubynn, is dated August 16, 2017.

It was on the basis of this letter that, Exton Cubic Group, dispatched a subcontractor; Engineers and Planners (E&P) owned by Ibrahim Mahama to Nyinahin to prepare the roads and clear the site for the Minerals Commission’s inspection.

The Minerals Commission’s August 16, 2017 letter read:

Dear Gash,

As discussed on phone, the Minerals Commission, will be visiting your Mining Development Site at Nyinahin on Thursday August 24, 2017.

The visit will afford the Commission the opportunity to discuss on-going efforts at developing the Nyinahin Bauxite deposit.

The team from the Commission is made up of the Director, PPME and the Asst. Manager, Policy Planning & Projects.

Please acknowledge receipt and update us on your preparation for the visit.

Kind regards

Jerry Ahadji

For: CEO

But while, E&P, were on their way, the Atwima Mponua District Chief Executive (DCE), Williams Darko and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, organized some jobless youth in the area to seize the earthmoving machines before they could enter the concession.

Dr. Aubynn, before the seizure, had been fired four days to his Nyinahin trip. Interestingly, his successor, Kwaku Addae Antwi-Boasiako, cancelled the trip hours after his appointment, saying the company had not met certain conditions per the terms of their mining lease, although thousands Ghana cedi, had been paid to the Minerals Commission by Exton Cubic as fees. Same Minerals Commission had since 2013 being dealing with Exton Cubic including carrying due diligence on the company.

Many are, however, asking whether the new Minerals Commission boss, properly apprised himself with the Exton Cubic issue or acted on orders from above.

Again, many see, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, as showing gross disrespect to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, who had been on various media platforms, saying the Exton Cubic, had met all the necessary requirements and regulations to enter the Bauxite Concession at Nyinahin.

But some are of the view that, Mr. Amewu, had no hand in the appointment of the new Minerals Commission boss, hence the disrespect.

They questioned, whether Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, consulted his minister, Mr. Amewu, before stopping Exton Cubic which was registered in 1999 as a mining company.

Following the sacking of Dr. Aubynn and seizure of the subcontractor’s equipments, the new Minerals Commission boss, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako in a letter dated August 23, wrote;

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

EXTON CUBIC GROUP LIMITED

ACCRA

Dear Sir,

MINING LEASE-EXTON CUBIC GROUP LIMITED

The above subject matter refers.

Please note that as per the terms of your mining lease, the following conditions has not been fulfilled. That

before undertaking an activity or operation under this mining lease, the company shall obtain the necessary approvals and permits as they may be required by law from the Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency or any other regulatory body.

the validity of the Forestry Permit is strictly contingent upon your fulfillment of all statutory regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission (WRC) and the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission pertaining to legitimate mining operations in a forest reserve and this shall be non-negotiable.

the mining lease is subject to ratification by Parliament in accordance with Article 268(1) of the Constitution and Section 5(4) of Act 703. Upon the execution of this mining lease, the company shall submit a certified true copy of the mining lease to the Minister to be laid in Parliament for ratification.

You are therefore directed to stop any attempt of entering the concession to undertake any mining operation.

KWAKU ADDAE ANTWI-BOASIAKO

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Meanwhile, the Chiefs of Nyinanhin, are calling on the government to allow Exton Cubic Group to continue bauxite exploration in the Nyinanhini bauxite concession in the Tano Offin Forest reserve.

According to the chiefs, Ibrahim Mahama, owner of E&P, who is a brother of the former President, John Dramani Mahama, is a maternal kin of the land and not an outsider.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief of Nkawie Panin, Nana Kusi Amankwah Marfo II, debunked assertions that the minerals of Nyinanhini was being handed to strangers.

“…We also heard that people are unhappy that the brother of the former President John Dramani Mahama is here to take what belongs to us, but Ibrahim and the former President are from the same father. Paternally, they are Gonjas but from his mothers’ side, he is a son of Nyinanhini Panin,” Nana Kusi Amankwah Marfo II pointed out.

The chief also cleared that the company has duly been licensed by government and cleared by the traditional authorities to operate in the forest reserve.

He stated, “Exton Cubic didn’t appear from the blue. Their operations were duly licensed. Again government only gave them 58% of the bauxite concession. There is 42%,” left for the taking.

The E&P’s earthmoving equipment, are still in the custody of the Nyinanhin Police on the orders of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, despite threats by the subcontractors to sue the government, because it is losing US$40,000 daily.