 of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Mr Elijah Adansi-Bonah should b){kind=link}
A Mining Expert, Eng. Dr Koku Amoako, has stated that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Mr Elijah Adansi-Bonah should be blamed for the atatck on miners who were mining on a concession belonging to AngloGold Ashanti.
It was reported recently that some indigenous miners were brutalised and arrested for allegedly mining on a concession belonging to AngloGold Ashanti.
According to reports, the victims were allegedly beaten by soldiers and made to lie in the mud without being taken through the due legal process.
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Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie with Abena Dufie Asare Agyepong, Eng. Dr Koku Amoako said the MCE should have engaged the Minister to speak with the authorities of AngloGold Ashanti and plead with them to release a portion of their concession to the local miners so that they can also work to feed themselves.
According to him, the MCE knew the woes of his people and so if he failed to help them secure a place for mining, then he cannot escape blame.
“What happened was not good but we have to blame the MCE. The MCE knew the concerns of the people, this government has introduced community mining and every MCE who knows the worries of miners, you can talk with the Minister to get a place.
Even if the concession belongs to someone and he has finished mining, you can engage the stakeholders and beg them to give a small portion to the people in the community, legalise it and do community mining in order to protect the residents,” he said.
He explained that a concession can belong to a company for about ten or 15 years, insisting that the MCE could have discussed with the company to give the people a small portion.
Meanwhile, he said AngloGold Ashanti cannot be blamed for what happened because they obtained their concession legally and they were paying tax, adding that it is not proper for someone to go on their concession to steal, saying it will scare away investors away.
Way Forward
He called on the MCE to engage the company to release a portion of their concession to the miners in order to prevent them from going to mine at unauthorised places.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori