11 new mining licenses were issued same day Akufo-Addo met Organised Labour – Ablakwa

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made a serious allegation on the issuance of licenses for small-scale mining.

According to the MP, 11 new licenses were issued on October 3, 2024, the exact day that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met with the Organised labour.

“You have not seen the worse. Let me reveal to you this morning to my shock, and I’m sure many Ghanaians will be shocked this morning particularly the Organised Labour, to my shock, whiles the president was meeting with Organised Labour, that same day would you believe that new licenses were being issued for these companies to start mining? That same 3rd of October, two days ago, 11 new licenses to companies. Shocking!” he stated.

Okudzeto Ablakwa said this during an interview on TV3’s Key Points on October 5, 2024.

He added that the data backing his allegations is available on the Ghana Data Mining Repository and further mentioned the names of the alleged companies that received the licenses.

On October 1, 2024, the Organised Labour announced it plans on embarking on a nationwide strike to demand for a complete ban on illegal mining.

The strike was scheduled to take place on October 10.

However, during a closed-door meeting on October 3, 2024, with key union leaders, where the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining was a primary focus, the president admonished the Organised Labour to reconsider the strike and asked for more time to address the concerns raised by the unions.

He also pleaded with them to delay their planned industrial action.

See names of the companies in the list below

RAD/AE

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