Kweku Asomah Cheremeh is Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is scheduled to meet officials from the Ghana Manganese Company Ltd and some stakeholders on Friday, August, 09, 2019 to devise ways of resolving the issues that led to the temporal shutdown of the company.
The outcome of the crunch meeting billed for tomorrow will pave way for the reopening of the company or otherwise.
“We are not happy that over 1000 workers would be sent home; we are earnestly looking for ways to thrash out the sticky issues. The question of losing close to $1.5 million daily is is not the big issue now. It’s better you lose today to find a better solution to a canker, “Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh told Kasapa 102.5 FM.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has ordered the Ghana Manganese Company Limited (GMCL) located in Tarkwa in the Western Region to stop all mining, exploration and export of minerals with immediate effect.
The order came after a financial analysis of the company’s operations between 2010 and 2017 revealed that it had caused revenue loss of about $360 million (GH¢1.94 billion) to the state.
But the Ghana Manganese Company has disputed claims by the Lands Ministry that it owes the state more than $300 million in taxes.
In a press release Wednesday signed by Benjamin Atsu Quashie, the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, denied allegations that the company is not tax-compliant, citing their records and awards as evidence.
“We will like to state that GMC operates responsibly and honors its statutory obligations. For the sake of clarity, in 2018, the corporation tax liability of the company was $31 million. This was settled before December 31, 2018 as required by law. In relation to royalties, the company paid an amount of $17 million in 2018,” GMC said.
