Don't take concessions from miners - NDC Chairman to government

The Western Regional Chairman of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Toku has appealed to the Government not to divert concessions of Small Scale Miners who could not complete their documentation as at the time the ban was lifted to other miners since that actions may lead to serious conflicts which may affect national security.

He said, as the Government is being commended for lifting the ban on Small Scale Mining, it is better to give those Small Scale Miners time to complete their documentation to return to their respective concessions.

He praised the Government for lifting the ban which to him was affecting the livelihood of the residents of Tarkwa Nsuaem and Western Region as a whole.

He continued that information reaching the miners reveals an attempt by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) to divert some concessions belonging to sone Small Scale Miners who are yet to complete their legal documentation to some prospective miners and believe that may cause conflicts.

Nana Toku gave this advice when he met the Tarkwa media at TNA park during a friendly football match between Medeama S/C and Accra Hearts of Oak to commemorate the 'Amankuma' festival, a festival celebrated by the APINTO DIVISIONAL COUNCIL, on Sunday, December 16, he was the special guest of honour.

The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Gilbert Ken Asmah who was also a special guest and a staunch supporter of Accra Hearts of Oak also commended the Government for lifting the ban on legal Small Scale Mining and hope the miners would abide by the Government's policy framework on Mining to safeguard the environment.

He commended Goldfields Ghana LTD for agreeing to construct a 10,000 seating capacity stadium for Tarkwa and believe it will go a long way to improve sports in the municipality.

He revealed that his office together with the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. George Mireku-Duker have distributed 37,000 cocoa seedlings and huge quantity of Palm seedlings for Free to some farmers and some illegal miners who agreed to divert into farming to mitigate the hardships they were going through as a result of the ban on illegal mining and promised his outfit is currently nursing two million (2,000,000) cocoa seedlings to be distributed free to farmers and illegal miners who want to divert into mining as an alternative livelihood.



The Chairman of the Municipal Sports in Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal who doubles as the Assembly Member for BRENUAKYIM ELECTORAL AREA, Hon. Kingsley Edmund Baidoo alias Nana Kwame also thanked the President for lifting the ban and revealed that plans are far ahead to introduce colts football in the municipality and if possible introduce departmental football among the companies operating in the Municipality.

He, therefore appealed for supports from stakeholders in the Municipality and commended GNPC for construction of AstroTurf at Dompim which will begin next year.