Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister
The Attorney General has pleaded for more time in a suit filed against the State by Exton Cubic Group Limited for the release of their mining equipment seized by the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah and the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Atwima Nwabiagya Williams Darko.
The two main respondents in the lawsuit- Simon Osei Mensah and Williams Darko were absent in court.
However, their representative from the Attorney General Department in Kumasi, lawyer Mary Gyenfuah explained to the Kumasi High Court Human Rights Court Division that the State needs more time to study the application by subcontractor Engineers & Planners Ghana Limited.
She added that her office has also received a notification from the Attorney General’s national headquarters in Accra that AG is sending them a letter in relation to the case hence the need for the case to be adjourned.
The trial judge, His Lordship George Addai Krofah consented to the argument from the State and therefore gave March 5, 2018 for the ruling after lawyers of the complainant, led by Godwin Tamaklo consented.
The law suit against the Ashanti Regional Minister and district Chief executive of Atwima Mponua District (DCE) was filed on August 20, 2017 for unlawful seizure of their mining equipment on their way to mine in the Nyinahini forest reserve.
The company is praying the court to declare the actions of the regional Minister, Atwima Mponua DCE who acted on behalf of the state as illegal and also award a cost as the trucks remain in the custody of the police and rusting.
Exton Cubic Group Limited is an indigenous Ghanaian Company seeking to explore the underutilized mineral reserves by creating jobs for Ghanaian youth through the establishment of Integrated Aluminum Industry and Salt factory and also build the railway sector relative to the Nyinahini Bauxite Deposit.
The Company was granted a mining lease which was revoked by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu through a letter dated September 4, 2017.
The September 4, letter was subsequently quashed and declared illegal by the High Court in Accra on February 8, therefore reinstating the Mining lease acquired by the company through due process.
Meanwhile, Ultimate FM’s source at the Attorney general department has confirmed that the seized equipment will be released to the company before the next hearing in court.
Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei Mensah has also confirmed that plans are far advanced to release the machines.
However, the minister failed to give the exact date the equipment will be released.
Background
Seizure of Exton Cubic Company Ltd mining equipment became necessary after the Ashanti Regional Minister disclosed that Exton Cubic Company Ltd failed to produce documents which permit it to mine or prospect for bauxite in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve at Nyinahin at the time government had banned illegal mining.
