REVEALED: EPA granted Exton Cubic Group prospecting permit in 2016

Contrary to claims by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that did not grant permit to Exton Cubic Group Limited to do prospecting of bauxite at Kyirayaso Concessions, Atwima Mponua and Ahafo Ano South Districts all in the Ashanti Region, a document has emerged confirming the company was indeed granted the permit as far back as 2016.

The permit signed by one Ebenezer Appiah Sarpong who was then the acting Deputy Director Technical on behalf of the Executive Director permitted the company to do prospecting between June 7, 2016 to June 6, 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday said it has not granted permission to Exton Cubic Group to undertake bauxite mining activities at Nyinahini in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.

The Agency says any attempts by the company to enter the area to mine bauxite, is illegal.

Some irate youth believed to be organized by the District Chief Executive of Atwima Mponua on Monday prevented Engineers & Planners – affiliated to Exton Cubic – from depositing mining equipment at the Nyinahini bauxite concession in the Tano Offin reserve.

The EPA in a statement on Wednesday clarifying the matter has said 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 activity is illegal.”

The statement further said “On 29th March 2016, Exton Cubic Group Limited applied for three separate Environmental Permits from the EPA to undertake prospecting of bauxite on its Mprasaso, Kiriyaso, and Kyekyewere concessions in the Ashanti Region covering a total of 346.08 km sq. The EPA granted the Environmental Permits to Exton Cubic Group Limited on 7th June 2016.

But an aide to Ibrahim Mahama, Rafik Mahama said the statement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission are flawed. Exton Cubic is not engaged in mining and that they are only prospecting and that the prospecting permit was issued by the EPA on 07/06/2016.

“The PRO of EPA shouldn’t have acted based on hear say. Exton Cubic has applied for the permit to start mining. The first letter was sent to EPA on 20/03/2017 and a second request was sent on 18/07/2017 after EPA failed to respond to the March 20 letter. For that matter, it’s flawed for the EPA PRO to state that Exton Cubic failed to write to them for mining permit.

4. Also, it’s flawed for the two institutions to asked Exton Cubic to stop mining because such thing is not happening. Exton Cubic is only prospecting and not mining. Mind you, the company has a prospecting permit from all the agencies last year and is due to expire in 2018.

Exton Cubic has been cooperating with all the state institutions in the mining sector for almost 4 years now. It has complied with all the lay down processes leading to the granting of the Mining lease. Mind you, Minerals Commission will not give a Mining lease to a Company if you don’t submit your Prospecting permit. This was done by Exton Cubic before the lease was granted”