Bismarck Oboobi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Youth Organiser in Atwuma Mponua in the Ashanti Region, has said it is unfortunate for the Nkawie Panin Hene, Nana Kusi Amankwaa Maafo, to have endorsed the operation of Exton Cubic Mining Company Limited in Nyinahini.
According to him, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the other regulatory bodies in the mining sector have all indicated that the company has no permit to mine bauxite in the area, therefore a call by the chief to allow the company mine is a slap on the face of the law.
The Nkawie Panin Hene has joined the chiefs of Nyinahini to make a strong case for the embattled bauxite mining firm, Exton Cubic Group, to be allowed to operate in the area.
This was at a press conference at Nkawie on Tuesday, August 29, which comes on the back of accusations against the chief of Nyinahini, Nana Amanpene II, by the youth of Nyinahini that he facilitated the issuance of illegitimate license to Exton Cubic Group for his selfish gains.
At the press conference, Nana Kusi Amankwaa Maafo reiterated that Exton Cubic Group has the backing of the community to engage in bauxite prospecting within the Tano-Offin Forest Reserve, contrasting the EPA’s statement that Exon Cubic Group do not have a permit to mine.
For him, the company has followed due process, and should be allowed to engage in the mining activity which will benefit the community in the long run due to the number of jobs that will accompany the establishment of the mines.
But reacting to this in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5FM on Wednesday, August 30, Oboobi said: “We the youth are very much disappointed in our chief and the kind of press conference he held yesterday.
“We knew that the EPA, and all other regulatory bodies have set the records straight that Exton Cubic has no permit to mine in the area and so is Nana saying that the company should engage in illegality?
“This is unacceptable, it is surprising because the traditional leaders are supposed to ensure that their people are law-abiding people.
“Even their comments that Ibrahim Mahama is from Nkawei violates the laws of the land because you don’t need to come from a particular area before you can work in that area. This is disappointing.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
