Concerned Citizens of Talensi (CCT), a group made up of Assembly members, opinion leaders and youth of the Talensi District, have called for the expulsion of Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited from the district.
The call was made at a Press Conference organized by the group in Sheaga, where lots of issues were raised concerning some “bad” activities of Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited in the District.
The Concerned Citizens expressed doubts over the validity of documents and registration of Shaanxi Mining Ghana Ltd, as a mining support service provider, to Pobotaba and Yenyeya Mining Groups.
“In June 2012, we requested a legal search on Shaanxi Mining operations in Talensi, but the Mineral Commission rather produced a Cadastral Map with explanation that, Shaanxi Mining Ghana Ltd had not been registered to operate in Talensi, in any capacity”
The group stated that, since 2013, many young men including Cephas Bazimwomit, Nambok Yaw, Tahiru Yussifu, Boazor among others, have perished through deliberate blast poisoning, an act the group described as a wicked mining practice.
They also indicated that, the toxic substance from the Shaanxi Mining Company, when inhaled, deteriorates the respiratory system, resulting in severe coughing and vomiting of blood, hence victims dying within two days.
“The blasting has destroyed all sources of good drinking water, including the very single borehole, they constructed. They destroyed a 1 unit 3-Classroom block built by the District Assembly and have since done nothing better to improve the situation.” They stated.
To them, it is surprising that, even though the Minerals and Mining (Support Services) Regulation, 2012, LI 2174, seeks to preserve Mining Support Service to only Ghanaian companies, Shaanxi Mining Ghana Ltd, has been allowed and shielded to operate.
They stated that, there is a clear indication that, some officers of the Minerals Commission were either over protecting or collaborating with Shaanxi Mining Ghana Ltd in the “bad practices” in the Talensi District.
Attached is the full Statement.
Source: a1radioonline.com/ Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
