President Akufo-Addo has directed Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor to assume responsibility as Trade and Industry Minister pending the appointment of a substantive person.
His caretaker duties as the Trade Minister takes effect from January 16.
This was contained in a statement from the Director of Communications at the Office of the President.
The President in an earlier statement tasked the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to act as the caretaker Minister for the Ministry.
This followed the resignation of Alan Kyerematen as Trade Minister. President Akufo-Addo while accepting his resignation wished Alan well in his future endeavours.
His resignation was believed to afford him time to pursue his presidential ambition. Subsequently, Alan Kyerematen officially declared his intention to contest in the flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party.
Ken Ofori-Atta, the current finance minister, will be replaced by Abu Jinapor. Alan Kyerematen resigned a few days ago, and Ken Ofori-Atta was given control of the trades ministry.
The appointment of Abu Jinapor as interim trade minister will begin on Monday, January 16, 2023, according to a statement made by Eugene Arhin, director of communication for the president’s office.
President Akufo-Addo, on January 6, 2023, directed Ofori-Atta to serve as the caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry.
The appointment was made after the president accepted the resignation of Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen after reports emerged, he tendered his resignation on Thursday 5, 2023.
Although there are no clear reasons for Alan Kyerematen’s resignation, it is believed that he did so on the basis of contesting in the flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 general elections.
President Akufo-Addo was heavily criticized for appointing Ofori-Atta as caretaker minister for Ministry of Trade and Industry because many Ghanaians including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have been calling for the removal of Ofori-Atta as finance minister.
Read the statement issued by the presidency below:
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources,Samuel Abu Jinapor, has underscored the importance of the Ghana Chamber of Mines in the attainment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of making Ghana a mining hub of Africa.
According to him, as the body that represents the interest of mining companies in the country, the Ministry recognizes that the Ghana Chamber of Mines is arguably the most important partner in the mining industry.
Speaking during a working visit to the Chamber on Tuesday, January 10, 2022, Samuel Abu Jinapor emphasized the need for conscious, constant and fruitful deliberations between the Ministry and the Chamber so as to achieve the aim of making Ghana a Mining hub of Africa.
The Lands Minister also sought the enhanced support of the Chamber in the fight against illegal mining.
He explained that the Chamber needs to take a leading role in the regulation of the Mining industry and that the Ministry with its open-door policy will welcome all proposals and assistance from the Chamber and all other stakeholders.
“You are one of, if not the most important partner, for the ministry in mining industry. You control an overwhelming stake in the industry and contribute overwhelmingly to the national economy. As partners, we have to find proper platform for engagements and I believe that, that is the spirit with which we’ve been working for the past two years. It is important that we see ourselves as partners”, the Minister said.
“For us to be able to derive the needed benefit from the sector, we must continue to see each other as partners. As partners, it is important that we have these kinds of constructive engagements”, he added.
“We are going to engage on how we can build the mining industry of our country to realize the vision of the president of making Ghana a mining hub of Africa,” he reiterated.
President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Joshua Mortoti lauded the Government for its plan to make Ghana a mining hub of Africa and assured of the total support of the Chamber in actualizing that vision.
He highlighted the immense contribution of the Chamber to the country’s economy.
He disclosed that the Sector Minister, in response, requested that they furnish his outfit with further details of the above-mentioned and recommended ways they can be addressed.
Duker said it was important for the Ministry and the Chamber to work together for the growth of the sector and the Ghanaian economy.
The meeting with the Chamber of Mines forms part of the Sector Minister’s continuous agenda to engage key stakeholders and partners
I have read, Sir, with utmost dismay, your Facebook post regarding the comments made by the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in Eastern Region, when he addressed the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUCDPA).
Ordinarily, I would have no need to respond to matters you post on your Facebook page. But, due to the gross misinformation and political spin contained in the said post, as well as the attempt to disparage my integrity and that of the President in respect of this matter, as Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, I deem it necessary to set the records straight.
My response will, therefore, focus on the facts, and I will endeavour not to respond to the political spins contained in the said post. The unimpeachable facts relating to this matter are as follows:
sometime last year, there were allegations levelled against Akonta Mining Ltd that it was engaging in some mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve;
although the company had applied for a mining lease over a portion of the Forest Reserve, the application had not yet been determined. I, therefore, directed the Forestry Commission to investigate the matter, and ensure that the Company does not carry out mining activities in the Forest;
the Forestry Commission moved in quickly and cleared the forest of all alleged illegal activities;
President Akufo-Addo had been invited as a Special Guest of Honour at the NUCDPA Congress, where he spoke about strengthening State-Church collaboration;
at the said Congress, a specific question was asked by the Chairman of the occasion regarding illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining;
the President in response stated categorically that “Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana AS WE SPEAK”;
the President was speaking about the state of affairs at the time he made the comment, and went ahead to add that Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission had, with the assistance of the military, cordoned off all Forest Reserves in the country, and rid them of illegal mining activities at the time he was speaking, and that Government was working to ensure that the situation remains permanent;
the comments by the President in no way relates to past or future activities of Akonta Mining, and cannot, by any shred of imagination, be deemed as exonerating the company from any past activities or interfering with any ongoing investigations;
as it is public knowledge, the allegations of illegal mining by Akonta Mining Ltd are being investigated by state institutions responsible for such investigations, the Ghana Police Service and the Office of the Special Prosecutor;
when I received the report from the investigations conducted by the Forestry Commission, pursuant to my directive, I forwarded the report to the Ghana Police Service, through the Minister for Interior, to assist them in their investigations;
the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) of the Police Service has subsequently written to me requesting some further information, which I have provided;
the Office of the Special Prosecutor, in its Half Yearly Report dated 31st December, 2022, also states that the Office is currently investigating activities of Akonta Mining and other companies in respect of the said allegations;
officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are collaborating with these state institutions to conduct their investigations and take the necessary actions;
the President, mindful of these ongoing investigations, refrained from speaking on past activities of the company which are under investigations by the state agencies. Indeed, but for the specific question posed by the Chairman of the occasion, the President would not have mentioned Akonta Mining at all;
I, also, want to put on record that no one, and absolutely no one, compelled me to issue the Press Statement on Akonta Mining which was issued following the allegations of their activities in the Forest Reserve. Neither has the President called any official of Akonta Mining to “appease” them on the action taken by Government. These claims, if they were indeed made, as you suggest, are, obviously, false and a figment of peoples’ own imagination; and
as reiterated by President Akufo-Addo at the Congress where he spoke, “Government is determined to win the fight against galamsey, no matter the cost and effort.” Under his distinguished and outstanding leadership, we are committed to doing this with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and utmost good faith in the public interest. Sir, whilst I have the opportunity, permit me to assert, without a shred of equivocation that the record of President Akufo-Addo’s Government in the past six years of fighting corruption far surpasses the NDC’s eight-year record. Needless to point out that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding of anti-corruption institutions, the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which as I speak, is investigating this matter, the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), rapid investigations of allegations of corruption, and many more are testament to his remarkable record in the fight against corruption.
I have reluctantly come out to set these records straight due to the very unfair and unfortunate manner in which you have attacked the unblemished reputation and integrity of the President of the Republic, your successor. Good Day Sir,
Samuel A. Jinapor, MP. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Ministries Accra
The first phase of the Appiatse community is anticipated to be finished by the end of this year, according to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
He claims that the administration wants to finish the project on schedule and that community reconstruction is proceeding according to plan.
“God willing all things being equal, ending of this year, we will finish phase one of the Appiatse community reconstruction and that will enable us to resettle the displaced people of Appiatse,” he said.
The Minister stated that upon completion of the project, the neighborhood will have roads, markets, schools, hospitals, clinics, community centers, and access to electricity and potable water.
The Damongo MP expressed his admiration for the development of the construction on Wednesday during a ceremony to inspect it at Appiatse.
He claimed that 124 housing units, including 104 at the foundation stage, are currently being built, ranging in size from two to seven-bedroom homes.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the project will create a community that will serve as a model for other rural villages across the nation.
He also commended the government for its efforts to ensure that Appiatse residents may resume their regular way of life.
“Indeed, what has happened in the Appiatse community is a clear testimony that we have a government that walks the talk,” he said.
The Minister reiterated that the government is fully determined to make sure that they complete the reconstruction and ensure that people are resettled properly.
In the interim, he donated Gh₵15,000 along with relief items like 50 bags of 25kg rice, 20 cartons of tomato tins, 8 cartons of tinned fish, 5 cartons of oil and 20 packs of water
It would be recalled that about 13 persons died in an explosive-induced fire when a vehicle carrying mining explosives crashed at Appiatse on January 20, 2022.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has emphasized the significance of relations between Ghana and South Africa and urged the two nations to work together immediately to strengthen their negotiating position in relation to gold prices in order to obtain competitive gold prices on the global market to their mutual advantage.
According to the Lands Minister, 60% of the world’s cocoa production is produced in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, and these two nations have collaborated to establish what is known as the cocoa floor price. As a result, there is currently a minimum price level, regardless of what occurs on the international stage, below which cocoa cannot be sold.
He further indicated that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are taking a step further and working jointly to get the International community to take out the issue of premiums.
Hon. Jinapor was of the view that the move by Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in the cocoa industry could be replicated by Ghana and South Africa in the gold sector.
The Ghanaian government, the Minister said, is doing all it can to come to grips with illegal mining activities known in Ghana as ‘galamsey’, in Australia as Prospecting, and in South Africa, as Zama zamas and charged his technical team to consider the governance structure of the South African delegation since their system is fused from the get-go sighting the head of their committee as a Major General concluding that theirs is a broad sectoral nature.
On her part, Major General Zulu the leader of the delegation applauded Ghana for allowing her country’s top principals to engage them while they are on their knowledge-sharing tour in the country adding that the President of the Republic of South Africa tasked them to use Ghana as a benchmark to yield broader results.
Ghana and South Africa are leading producers of gold in Africa and relations between the two countries date back to pre-colonial times as both countries are members of the African Union and the Commonwealth of nations.
The goal is built on making sure that all mining and mining-related operations – from exploration to downstream production and from research to innovation – are centered, which he observed remains a crucial focus of government.
To this end, he indicated that government is fully committed to this course; hence his call for collaboration to build a responsible, viable, sustainable and environmentally-sound mining industry.
“Large-scale mining companies which use highly skilled methods must work closely with small-scale miners to ensure that they, also, mine responsibly.
“We cannot have one aspect of the industry promoting environmentally-sound practices while the other is destroying the gains made. We must work together, and with host communities, to safeguard our environment; and provide opportunities for host communities to reduce the appetite for venturing into dangerous activities like illegal mining,” he stated.
The small-scale mining sector currently contributes about a third of Ghana’s total gold production, making it a significant part of the local mining industry. However, as a result of its impact on the environment in recent years, it has become associated with environmental degradation and water-pollution.
But the minister said it is the position of government that small-scale mining can, and must, be done sustainably and responsibly so as to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
“It is for this reason that government has been implementing several policies and programmes aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable small-scale mining,” he added.
Furthermore, he disclosed that government is considering implementing an annual environmental audit, and posting Reclamation Bonds for small-scale mining companies.
The three-day World Gold Council Workshop is being organised on the role of large-scale gold mining companies in promoting responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The event is being held under the auspices of the World Gold Council and Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, also speaking at the programme noted that they have digitalised the applications and renewals for mineral rights, permits and licences for both large- and small-scale mining companies.
This, he said, forms part of efforts by the Minerals Commission to expedite the licencing process and generally ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Also, a Senior Advisor of the World Gold Council, Mr. Edward Beckham, appealed for countries to adopt responsible and sustainable ways of exploiting their resources.
Among other things, he said, the workshop will lead to an exchange of knowledge and expertise on effectively harnessing mineral resources for the country’s growth while protecting the environment.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Saturday co-chaired the first ministerial meeting of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership with the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Secretary John Kerry, at the ongoing COP27 in Sharm El- Sheikh, Eqypt.
The meeting, attended by 28 ministers and five observer countries, was to develop a framework for 2023 and beyond, to achieve the objectives of the Partnership.
Mr Jinapor pledged the Government’s commitment to working with members of the Partnership to deliver on forests and nature-based solutions to climate change.
He gave the assurance of using his leadership on the new Partnership to showcase Ghana’s climate actions and that of other countries as they synergise to work on addressing forest losses.
Forests and nature-based solutions could deliver up to a third of global climate solutions, and “Ghana, as a respected member of the international community, is fully committed to supporting global climate action,” he said.
The Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) is a new political forum that brings together governments and partners to implement solutions to reduce forest losses, increase restoration, and support sustainable development.
It creates a platform for heads of state, governments and their ministers to combine political efforts to accelerate global action to halt and reverse forest losses and land degradation by 2030.
The members work towards delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are on course as the World Bank is set to release up to fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to Ghana to fight carbon dioxide emissions.
Speaking at an event on Ghana’s Forest Solutions to Climate Change, Climate Change Manager of the World Bank, Mr. Erwin DeNys, noted that the payment is in
exchange for a six million hectare area of the West African Guinean Forest being predicted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about ten million tonnes by 2024.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources at the ongoing twenty- seventh session of Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
The gesture is to commend Ghana for being an important and active member of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility since its establishment in 2008.
Ghana is one of the first countries to transition to emission reduction programmes and results-based payments, according to Mr De Nys.
According to Mr. De Nys, the nation will soon receive US$4.8 million for over 970,000 tons of confirmed and documented emission reductions between June and December 2019.
He mentioned that the payment will be used to reward stakeholders in emission reduction, and boost confidence in Ghana’s REDD+ process.
In order to further cut emissions and achieve social inclusion, Mr. De Nys added that Ghana will also profit from the World Bank’s Enabling Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) programme.
On his part, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged strategic cooperation to close the financing gap for climate change.
He emphasised that the current financial sources are insufficient to address the scale of the issue, and because the $100 billion climate finance pledge made in
Copenhagen was not met, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to collaborate in order to close the gap between ambition and action.
Mr. Jinapor called on governments and all actors to deliver action beyond pledges and declarations. “We are at a stage in the climate struggle where mere talk, commitments, declarations, and/or pledges are not enough.
Consistent with the clarion call of COP27, this is the time the world must “walk the talk” and get on with action and implementation of the many years of unfulfilled climate action promises,” the Minister said.
He said Ghana was committed to forest and nature-based solutions to climate change, which is evidenced by the over 547,000 hectares of degraded forests cultivated between 2017 and 2021, and the over thirty million trees planted under the Green Ghana Project, as well as the verified and validated emission reductionunder the Ghana REDD+ Strategy.
He expressed his confidence in COP27, which has been termed action and implementation COP, to deliver real action towards limiting global warming to the one point five degrees Celsius (1.5oC) target set out in the Paris Agreement.
The UNDP’s Principal Advisor on Climate and Forests, Tim Claris, who also spoke at the event, commended Ghana for its forest solutions to climate change and said the country deserves to be rewarded for actions being taken
in the forestry sector.
Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, has urged wealthy polluter nations to shoulder financial responsibility for the harm that climate change
causes to the most vulnerable and underdeveloped nations.
Addressing attendees at the National Climate Change Seminar in Accra, Mr Nkaw stated that the startling shifts in the climate are
having a toll on scores of farmers in vulnerable nations like Ghana, thus the need for developed countries to support vulnerable countries.
“These sad realities demand our collective action to prevent a further increase in the wealth gap. We must continue our campaign for the establishment of an
international financing facility to help vulnerable countries recover and rebuild in the aftermath of climate disasters,” he indicated.
However, he added that regular and diverse climate change research is critical to improving stakeholders’ understanding of adaptation. Engaging in such research, he said, will also influence private and public activities to attract investors to vulnerable communities.
“The net effect of ongoing climate change is affecting agricultural production. These changes have impacted negatively on people
already living in poverty, who have become vulnerable to prolonged droughts, floods among other climate-induced impacts,” he added.
The seminar helped to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on farm households, facilitate interaction with government agencies, and publish research findings on Ghana’s climate change situation.
Climate change, which impacts both developed and developing countries, remains one of the world’s greatest threats. Despite contributing the least
to existing global climate action interventions, Africa is one of the continents most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
According to the most recent study from the UN’s climate panel, the harmful effects of climate change are intensifying faster than scientists predicted less than ten years ago.
It stated that while many effects are unavoidable and will disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable populations, governments working together to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and prepare communities for climate change could still prevent the worst outcomes.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the impact of climate change on agriculture and the environment was estimated at US$6.3 billion in 2017.
The African Development Bank has disclosed that the continent will require approximately $3trillion for climate adaptation programs by 2030 in order for
African economies to enact national commitments.
On the other hand, the World Bank report on Ghana’s climate risk profile predicts that the country’s average temperature will rise by 1°C to 3°C by mid-century and 2.3°C to 5.3°C by the end of the century.
It added that the country’s northern and inland areas are likely to be warm on a regular basis. Meanwhile, the World Bank has offered Ghana a $3 million grant to shield local communities from the impacts of climate change.
This was announced by President Akufo-Addo when giving a speech at Ghana’s pavilion at the ongoing 27th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27), on Wednesday, November 10, 2022.
People present at the conference were Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor; Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, other state officials and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr Kwaku Afriyie.
This was disclosed by the Climate Change Manager of the World Bank, Mr. Erwin De Nys, on Wednesday, 9th November, 2022.
The amount is in return of some ten million tons of carbon dioxide emissions expected to be reduced by 2024 within a six million hectare stretch of the West African Guinean Forest.
Mr. De Nys was speaking at an event on Ghana’s Forest Solutions to Climate Change, organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources at the ongoing twenty-seventh session of Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
He said Ghana has been an important and active member of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility since its establishment in 2008, and is one of the first countries to transition to emission reduction programmes and results-based payments.
Mr. De Nys said the country will soon receive US$4.8 million, representing over nine hundred and seventy thousand (970,000) tons of verified and validated emission reductions between June and December, 2019.
He said the payment will be used to reward stakeholders in emission reduction, and boost confidence in Ghana’s REDD+ process. In addition to this payment, Mr. De Nys said Ghana will also benefit from the Enabling Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) Programme of the World Bank, to further reduce emissions and ensure social inclusion.
On his part, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, called for strategic collaboration to bridge the climate financing gap. He said existing financing options are inadequate to deal with the enormity of the problem; and having missed the one hundred billion dollars ($100 billion) climate finance pledge made in Copenhagen, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to work together to bridge the gap between ambition and action.
Mr. Jinapor called on governments and all actors to deliver action beyond pledges and declarations.
“We are at a stage in the climate struggle where mere talk, commitments, declarations and/or pledges are not enough. Consistent with the clarion call of COP27, this is the time the world must “walk the talk” and get on with action and implementation of the many years of unfulfilled climate action promises”, the Minister said.
He said Ghana was committed to forest and nature-based solutions to climate change, which is evidenced by the over 547,000 hectares of degraded forests cultivated between 2017 and 2021, and the over thirty million trees planted under the Green Ghana Project, as well as the verified and validated emission reduction under the Ghana REDD+ Strategy.
He expressed his confidence in COP27, which has been termed action and implementation COP, to deliver real action towards limiting global warming to the one point five degrees Celsius (1.5ºC) target set out in the Paris Agreement.
The UNDP’s Principal Advisor on Climate and Forests, Tim Claris, who also spoke at the event, commended Ghana for her forest solutions to climate change, and said the country deserves to be rewarded for actions being taken in the forestry sector.
Excavators have seven days to be registered by owners and users across the nation.
The decision is a part of government attempts to stop unlawful small-scale mining, and it was issued by Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor (galamsey).
Excavator owners must register with the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly (MMDA) in the area where the machine is in use.
In a statement issued by the Ministry, all operators, owners and users of excavators beginning today, Monday, 24 October 2022, to Wednesday, 2 November 2022, excluding statutory holidays and weekends, are to register their excavators.
All excavators not registered by the stipulated deadline, if found, shall be seized and the appropriate measures taken to confiscate them as state property.
“Notice is hereby given the general public, particularly owners operators and/or users as well as MMDAs to ensure strict compliance with these directives.”
The Ministry, further assured the general public that “it will continue to take the necessary measures to protect our natural environment, particularly, water bodies, forests and lands, in a transparent and sustainable manner, anchored on integrity.”
The mining industry is under examination, particularly in light of the massive increase of illicit mining operations, or “galamsey,” which are destroying and damaging the nation’s natural resources like waterways and forest reserves.
The industry may fail if this threat is not effectively controlled because the “galamseyers” are ruining waterways and forest reserves.
In an effort to clamp down on their activities, government has put up several interventions like speed-boats and guards to prohibit illegal miners from the areas.
“The mining industry’s sustainability in Ghana and making Ghana the mining hub of Africa does not lie in just training people, but building local capacity to respond to the mining needs of the entire continent,” he stressed.
Mr. Jinapor further called on the participants to develop capacities of local people in the sector in order to make the most of them.
“Backed by Legislative Instrument (L.I 2431), the localisation programme aims to develop Ghanaian human capital in the mining industry value chain through education, skills-transfer and expertise development.
“Additionally, the law seeks to bolster transfer of technology and know-how, and research and development programmes in the Ghanaian mining sector.
“Ghana’s move to embark on human capital development in the sector is underpinned by government’s quest to make Ghana a mining hub where all mining and other related activities in Africa will be centered – hence enactment of the L.I 2431, which aims to enhance human capital development in the sector to bring this long-term dream to fruition,” he added.
For his part, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the GCM, Sulemanu Koney, noted that in their quest to develop human capital in the sector, the Chamber has given a research grant of about US$83,538 to six faculty members and five post-graduate students at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to conduct research in the mining industry; adding that this is the second tranche of support to the university, amounting to an about-GH₵1.3million grant for research.
According to him, the mining industry can be more productive and sustainable with the research, attraction and retention of the right talent and skills, and pledged to continue supporting academia through the Chamber’s Tertiary Education Fund (TEF) to develop the right talent and skills for the industry.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Dr. Eric Asubonteng, called for a paradigm shift in the mode of operations from the human resource perspective by strengthening the employer value chain, which he said can only be achieved with a radical rethink of the sector’s approach in attracting, retaining and nurturing talents.
Building local capacity in the mining industry in Ghana is the surest way to sustain the industry, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has stated.
“In building capacity, you must pay particular attention to building local capacity which is one of the most important policies of the government for the mining industry,” he told mining companies.
The Minister, who was addressing the fifth Annual Conference of the Ghana Chamber of Mines on Human Resource Management at Obuasi, underlined the need to build a human resource base with strong local content and local participation that responded to the future needs of the industry.
The conference, which was on the theme: “Transforming People Management for a Sustainable Mining Industry,” was to create a platform for the mining industry to celebrate achievements and highlight the challenges, which confront the industry, employers and labour.
The conference, which was jointly put together by the Chamber and AngloGold Ashanti, also provided opportunity for industry players to discuss how to achieve a more sustainable and strong human resource base to stimulate development and growth.
Mr Jinapor said the vision of the President was to make Ghana the mining hub of Africa, where mining and mining related activities, from exploration to downstream production, and from research to innovation would be centred.
“As Human Resource Professionals in the mining industry, you must familiarise yourself with the requirements of Legislative Instrument 2431, particularly the localisation programme for the recruitment and training of Ghanaians,” he said.
He said building the capacity of employees was not only for the benefit of the organisation but the country at large, adding that, a motivated and efficient workforce increased productivity and by extension improved the national economy.
Mr Sulemanu Koney, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber, said effective people management was intrinsically linked to corporate performance and sustainability, hence the need for human resource practitioners to constantly update themselves on managing employees.
He said human resource was the central pillar of any organisation’s success, and that the Chamber was keen to see the attraction and retention of the best talent in the industry.
The industry, he noted, could be productive and sustainable with the confluence of research, attraction and retention of the right talents and skills.
“We will, therefore, continue to support academia through the Chamber’s Tertiary Education Fund to develop the right pipeline of talent and skills for our industry, and for Ghana as a whole,” he assured.
The CEO emphasised that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles were taking centre stage globally in corporate performance considerations, saying, industry players, particularly, human resource professionals, could underestimate the critical role of social and governance issues in their respective organisations.
Mr Eric Asubonteng, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, who chaired the opening session of the conference, said the industry needed to be proactive in strengthening the employer value proposition from the human resource perspective.
This, he said, could be achieved with a radical approach to attracting, retaining and nurturing talents.
“Human resource practitioners must, therefore, intensify efforts to transform the industry through comprehensive people management practices and find innovative ways to boost the effectiveness and efficiency of our people,” he stated.
Radio personality Kwame Tanko has alleged that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor was almost slapped at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.
According to him, the individual who almost slapped the Minister is involved in galamsey and could not fathom why a “small boy” wanted to disgrace him.
The individual, who he failed to name allegedly said “when did you come into the party, how much of your money has been used to run the political party? You want to disgrace me and spoil my job”.
He said it took the intervention of people around to stop the man from slapping the young, vibrant Minister.
“You know if I wasn’t there and I don’t have evidence, I won’t talk. When the President was in Kumasi to meet Chiefs and MMDCEs the Lands and Resource Minister was almost slapped. The person who wanted to beat him up questioned his locus in the party. When he raised his hand to slap the Minister, they held his hand,” Kwame Tanko said on Kumasi-based Angel FM.
The fight against illegal mining known in the local parlance as galamsey has come to the fore in National discussions.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who in the past vowed to put his Presidency on the line to ensure that Ghana wins the fight against the menace destroying the country’s water bodies and forest reserves has reiterated his commitment to the fight.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has indicated that the fight has been left in the hands of the Military and if it fails, the Military will be blamed for the failure.
A stalwart of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah has asked the President to place a curfew in all mining areas as part of the fight against illegal small scale mining (Galamsey).
He suggested that the army should be deployed to enforce the curfew if it is done.
Contributing to a discussion on TV3’s New Day show with Roland Walker on Friday October 14, he said “There should be a curfew in galamsey areas, get our army there to enforce the curfew.”
He further called for a five-year ban to be placed on all mining activities.
“Ban small scale mining for five years. The people will lose jobs and so they are afraid to do it but you have to create jobs for them.”
His comments come at a time the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said that the fight against galamsey is tough.
However, he said the government will not relent on its efforts in fighting the menace to protect the environment.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday October 13, the Damongo Lawmaker said “It is going to be a tough fight but the Ghanaian people should be rest assured that we are fully committed to this fight and we are never going to relent in our efforts.
“I am very confident that if all of us work together in good faith, we take out partisan politics out of it and see this as a national canker or national issue as it truly is, and pull our weight together, we definitely will be able to protect our environment and protect our country, protect our forest, protect our land scape, protect our water bodies for ourselves and our children and future generations.”
He said he has not achieved the results he was looking for in the fight but the government is determined to win the battle against the menace.
“Since I took office I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the efforts to rid our country of this menace which we all now call galamsey. It has not been popular and we have not got the result that I was looking for,” Mr Akufo-Addo said during a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and the Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi on Wednesday October 5.
He further told the National House of Chiefs that the task to protect the lands and the environment from the effect of Galamsey is a joint responsibility between the government and the traditional authorities.
Mr Akufo-Addo explained that 80 per cent of the lands in Ghana are in the custody of the chiefs.
This means they have a role to play in protecting the resource, he said.
He said “80 per cent of the lands in this country continue to be under your custody, much of it having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of your ancestors. The reminder of 20 per cent which I hold in trust of the people of Ghana, derived from state acquisition from you. What this means is that ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is our joint responsibility, although by statute the minerals in the soil belong to the president in trust for the people.”
The chiefs on their part assured Mr Akufo-Addo that they are solidly behind his administration to apply appropriate measures against all persons involved in Galamsey in the country.
President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb indicated that galamsey is having a negative effect on the environment and also threatens revenue mobilsation in the country hence, their resolve to support the President and government in fighting it.
He said “your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians especially we the chiefs.
“The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies , farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts, this undermins the revenue mobilsation drive in the country.
“In view of this development [the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice illegal mining irrespective of their status.”
The United Kingdom has appointed Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, as Co-Chair of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), the flagship programme on climate change mitigation.
He will Co-Chair the programme with Mr John Kerry, the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and former Secretary of State.
Ms Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, announced this on Thursday when she paid a working visit to the Minister, in Accra, to formally present the letter to him to Co-Chair the programme.
The FCLP is a new political forum, established by the United Kingdom, to enable governments and partners to work together to implement solutions that would help reduce forest loss and land degradation as well as promote sustainable development.
It seeks to mobilise high-level political leadership on forests, land-use and climate to increase restoration and ensure accountability for the pledges made by stakeholders.
She said Mr Jinapor had shown continued support to forests and other nature-based climate actions since his appointment as Minster.
Ms Thompson acknowledged Ghana’s active involvement in the Forest Agriculture and Climate Trade (FACT) Dialogue at COP 26, noting that the appointment of a Ghanaian Minister provides an opportunity for the country to maintain a high-level recognition on climate action and re-galvanise the international community to scale-up climate action.
Mr Jinapor accepted the appointment and commended the UK Government through the High Commissioner for the honour and confidence reposed in him, the Ministry, and Ghana as a whole.
He said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was passionate about climate change, which he demonstrated when he joined world leaders to sign the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use on the sidelines of COP26 in Scotland.
Mr Jinapor said it was in the same spirit that the Ministry had been implementing many initiatives to contribute to nature-based climate action.
These include the Green Ghana Project, the FACT Dialogue, REDD+ programme, the Cocoa and Forest Initiative, and the Forest Investment Programme.
He pledged his commitment to the new role by working with Mr Kerry to achieve the programme objectives.
On June 1, 2022, Mr Jinapor attended the High-level Ministerial meeting on Political Action for Climate, Forests and Land Use in Stockholm, Sweden, where he had side meetings and engagements with John Kerry, the Right Honourable Alok Sharma, 26th President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and Lord Goldsmith, the UK’s Minister for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment.
His appointment comes as a follow up to this Ministerial Meeting.
Mr Jinapor took the opportunity to call for collective action by all countries to provide a unique space for intergovernmental collaboration and coordinated action with partners and stakeholders to contribute towards the global fight against the adverse effects of climate change.
He contended that since mining activities take place in almost all the regions, government cannot just announce such directive without careful considerations.
Pressure group, OccupyGhana, petitioned President Akufo-Addo to immediately declare a state of emergency in all mining areas to help government streamline mining activities in the country.
There have been suggestions that it is a sure way of dealing with the menace. But Mr. Jinapor says there is more to it, which demands that further discussions are held.
“If we say state of emergency, I don’t understand what the import is. So, state of emergency [at] where? So in the mining areas you declare state of emergency, it means that people can be arrested and kept for more than 48 hours? It means that martial law would then operate in those places?
“We need to consider all that. I am not making a decision on this, I’m not taking a position on this, but I think it requires more interrogation before making a conclusion that a state of emergency be announced or be imposed in mining areas of our country,” he explained.
“Always remember that 13 or so out of the 16 regions in Ghana are mining regions. So, you are going to impose state of emergency on almost all of the regions.”
Meanwhile, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) is among many stakeholders demanding that government stops all small-scale and surface mining activities immediately as a means of restoring our water bodies.
Its convenor, Ken Ashigbey, says the environmental implications far outweigh the economic benefits.
The Coalition also wants the sacking of MCE, DCE and sector ministers who have failed the country in this fight.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stated that a statement by the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor about the role of the Ghana Armed Forces in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) has been misreported by a section of the media.
In a statement dated Friday, October 14, 2022, the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ministry said the the statement made by the minister at a press conference on Thursday had been misconstrued in some media reports.
“The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to publications in a section of the media to the effect that the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. These publications attribute this comment to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, during his Press Update on the fight against illegal mining at the Ministry of Information on Thursday, 13th October, 2022.
“While the Ministry welcomes and commends the Ghanaian media for their interest and enthusiasm in matters involving illegal mining, for the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did NOT say the military is to be blamed or held responsible for any failures in the fight against illegal mining. What the Minister said was to the effect that the military has been put fully in charge of the operations on the ground. Accordingly, they are to carry out their mission without interference from any person whatsoever. They are to take instructions only from the military high command on matters relating to the ongoing operations, and in accordance with their established command and control structures,” the ministry said.
“The above comments have, obviously, been misunderstood by a section of the media,” the statement added.
We will fish out, prosecute galamsey kingpins – Abu Jinapor
The ministry emphasised its confidence in the Ghana Armed Forces in leading the fight against Galamsey, saying it has “has absolute confidence in the professionalism, Capability and integrity of the Ghana Armed Forces to accomplish this mission.”
At the press conference on Thursday, the land’s minister outlined various measures by the government to deal with the canker of illegal mining.
Mr Jinapor told the press that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo remains resolute in the fight against galamsey, which is threatening several of Ghana’s water and river bodies.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said he is not afraid to hold the so-called powerful people behind illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’, accountable.
According to him, the ongoing trial of alleged ‘galamsey’ kingpin, Aisha Huang, who many have said has connections in high places in government, is a testament to his resolve to curb the menace of illegal small-scale mining.
Speaking in an Adom FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Jinapor added that the fact that the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, has taken over the case of Aisha Huang shows the seriousness of the government in the fight against ‘galamsey’.
“With all the sincerity and condor that I can marshal out of my being, I’m totally blind to the so-called powerful people. Who are those powerful people?
“Take for example, Aisha Huang. When her issue came up, what most people said was that nothing would happen to her, she would not be prosecuted because she is highly connected to the highest level, she has sex tapes and all that. In the end, we took her to court, and we slapped the most punitive charges against her.
“We are prosecuting her in a very spirited manner. Those of you who understand the country’s laws know that for the Attorney General himself to be prosecuting this matter of Aisha Huang tells you the importance the government places on it,” he said in Twi.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, who is also the Member of Parliament for Damongo, added that the AG has even secured a remand until the determination of the case of Aisha Huang, which means that the alleged ‘galamsey’ kingpin will be in the custody of the police until the court provides its judgement.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the fight against illegal small-scale mining.
He warned that any individual engaged in or funding illegal small-scale mining would face the full rigours of the law.
The Minister, who was briefing the press in Accra on Thursday on the renewed efforts in the military operations, also known as Operation Halt II, said the government would prosecute all persons engaged in this menace.
“Under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995, the punishment for foreigners engaged in illegal mining is 20 years imprisonment, plus a fine of not less than 1.2 million Ghana Cedis, plus deportation after serving the sentence.
And for Ghanaians, the minimum punishment is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of
GHC120,000.00,” he stated.
The Minister indicated that Operation Halt II would continue to support measures put in place to ensure that river bodies and forests are rid of illegal miners such as the continuous declaration of river bodies as red zones for mining, suspensions of reconnaissance and prospecting activities in Forest Reserves and the procurement of speed boats to patrol the river
bodies.
Mr Abu Jinapor said he joined the Attorney-General in court for the prosecution of four Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining, including Aisha Huang.
“The Office of the Attorney-General is working to ensure expeditious trial in these matters and if found culpable, they will be made to face the full rigours of the law,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, met with the
National House of Chiefs and urged them to rally behind the government in this fight.
“This is because, every galamsey site, falls within the jurisdiction of traditional authority. And if the traditional authorities stand with us and we can come to grips with this matter.
“The President also met with MMDCEs and has charged them to ensure that they rid their jurisdiction of illegal small-scale mining,” he added.
He disclosed that the government has rolled out advertisements on television and radio, to educate the general public about the dire consequences of illegal mining.
“So that people like the 62-year-old man who sold his cocoa farm to galamseyers for GHC30,000.00 will appreciate the consequences of their actions on the nation and future generations,” he emphasized.
Minister for lands and natural resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has issued a warning to political figures and other influential people in the nation to refrain from interfering with the work of the military task force sent in to stop illegal mining operations.
Mr Abu Jinapor, speaking to the media on Thursday, October 13, 2022, asserted that the military taskforce has eluded that powerful individuals in the country intervene on behalf of illegal miners, when accosted.
Describing the act as unethical, he stated that such interferences hinder the government’s fight against illegal miningand hence must cease.
He noted that, “ [no] politician, nobody is allowed to intervene. So I, as a minister, am not allowed to intervene, I am not allowed to call the military high command to say please don’t go to this concession. That discretion is not given to anybody. They are to use their own professional security expert judgment and they will be responsible and accountable to the minister for defence, the president and ultimately the Ghanaian people.”
He further added that “if things go wrong the minister for land and natural resources to a large extent will not be held accountable, it is the military high command which will be held accountable because nobody, not a politician, not a religious leader, not a chief is allowed to call the commanders to say do this or do that, that would be unwelcome, unethical, interference, I certainly will not do that and I want to believe that all actors in the body politics of our country will desist from that.”
Mr Jinapor’s comment comes on the back of recent allegations levelled against some political leaders for being involved in illegal mining activities.
The sub-chief of Dompim-Pepesa in Tarkwa in the Western Region, Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, accused the MP for Tarkwa- Nsuaem, Mireku Duker of being an active participant of illegal mining.
According to Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, Mr Duker owns a galamsey concession in the area.
In the same vein, investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI released a video showing the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, allegedly taking bribes to sidestep the laid down procedures for the procurement of mining licences.
However, both political actors have denied every allegation mounted against them.
Nonetheless, Mr Jinapor stated that despite the numerous challenges confronting the fight
against galamsey, the government will go for the long haul in ending illegal mining in Ghana.
Mr Abdulai Jinapor said the government will not shield any “big man or woman” in the galamsey fight if found culpable.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey has called on the Government to order small scale and surface mining activities to stop immediately to allow water bodies and forests to begin to restore.
The government is also encouraged to bring sanity to all surface mining activities in the country.
The Coalition in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, also admonished government to ensure that the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, was enforced without fear or favour.
“Powerful people involved in Galamsey activities in the country should be exposed and sanctioned to serve as a deterrent.
“Arrest, investigate and prosecute everyone involved in the illegality, including the Akonta Mining Ltd and its Directors, Bernard Boasiako and Kwame Antwi, for illegally mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve as well as breaching (Section 99(6) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by mining very close along the banks of Tano River,” it said.
The Coalition also encouraged the government to sack any Municipal Chief Executive or District Chief Executive in whose areas of jurisdiction illegal mining had taken place and was still ongoing.
The government was also entreated to sack ministers and their deputies who had a responsibility to regulate the mining sector but had failed and explore the provision of gainful, alternative employment to persons engaged in ‘galamsey’.
The Coalition also urged the government to ensure that the above punitive measures were implemented before Farmers’ Day this year as such activities directly impacted adversely the efforts of farmers.
The Coalition according to the statement had studied the ‘galamsey’ phenomenon from all possible viewpoints and had concluded that there was and could be no conceivable justification for illegal mining to continue in the country.
It observed that the government and other relevant stakeholders had not demonstrated enough commitment and leadership towards the fight against illegal mining activities.
“We are currently in a worse situation than when we started. For example, the annual average turbidity levels at the Daboase headworks on the Pra river has worsened from 1,180 in 2020, 2,588 in 2021 and 2634 in 2022.
“In view of this, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey believes that urgent and radical measures need to be adopted by government that will result in positive change of the state of our water bodies and preservation of our environment for our survival and that of the future generation,” the statement said.
The Coalition also called on well-meaning Ghanaians and Civil Society Organisations to join hands with the media to help mount continued pressure on the nation’s leaders, both political and traditional to help save Ghana’s water bodies and preserve her environment for future generations.
“Losing this war is not an option. Irresponsible and unsustainable mining is an existential threat and should not be countenanced,” it added.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey is made up of all media organisations in Ghana – public and private electronic and print media.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said the Akufo-Addo administration is determined to make all persons who are caught engaging in illegal small scale mining (Galamsey), to face the full rigours of the law.
He indicated that the Chinese national, Aisha Huang popularly known as Galamsey Queen, who was arrested for allegedly re-entering Ghana without permission after her deportation, and the others with her will all face the law for their actions.
Aisha Huang was denied bail yet again on Tuesday October 11.
She was denied bail by an Accra High Court, where she is facing four charges pressed by the Attorney General.
Speaking to journalists after the case, Mr Jinapor said “One of the key pillars on which we are seeking to deal with this issue of illegal small scale mining is law enforcement and prosecution, particularly as it relates to foreigners.
“As you can see, the Attorney-General himself was in court and he himself is conducting this trial, prosecuting the cases in a very spirited and enthusiastic manner.
“I think it helps my work, when you have an Attorney-General who is diligent and serious about prosecution and ensuring that all perpetrators are brought to book, I think it is a big boost and I am very thankful to him for the work he is doing.
“We will continue with our efforts on all fronts – law enforcements, reforms as well as the prosecutorial part, which we are fully committed .
“As you can tell, this Aisha Huang lady, the government of President Akufo-Addo is committed to bring her and other persons who are involved in illegal mining to face the full rigors of the the laws.”
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has jumped to the defence of his Deputy, George Mireku Duker who has been hit with allegations of involving himself in illegal mining activities.
According to the minister, he has no reason to believe such allegations as he is confident that his deputy would not be involved in such illegality.
“I think that the matters are still at play and the minister has denied it flatly. I have full confidence in the minister in my ministry and I don’t think he will ever be involved in any such conduct,” the minister told the press on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Amidst public calls on the government to take drastic measures in the fight against galamsey, George Mireku Duker and some members of the current government, as well as members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, have been accused of being involved in galamsey.
But the minister for lands and natural resources emphasised that it will only be through an investigation that the allegations against his deputy can be established or otherwise.
“They have denied it and if there is any substance to any such allegations, I think the best way to proceed is to conduct investigations,” he said.
Mr Jianpor who was addressing the press after alleged Chinese galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang was brought to the Accra High Court noted government’s commitment to fight galamsey by all means possible, including through prosecutions.
“As you can tell, this Aisha Huang lady, the government of President Akufo-Addo is committed to bring her and other persons who are involved in illegal mining to face the full rigours of our laws in this country,” he said.
Aisha Huang remanded indefinitely for trial
Chinese National, Aisha Huang, who is in court for her involvement in illegal mining activities (galamsey) in Ghana, has been remanded to police custody by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court.
Presiding Judge Lydia Osei Marfo, during a sitting on Friday, October 11, 2022, refused the plea of her lawyer, Nkrabea Effah Dartey, after the latter argued that his client deserved bail.
According to the judge, all arguments previously made against his plea for bail, including his client’s flight risk, remain and will not be changed.
She added that his constant presence in court with his client would be the only way to ensure the case is heard accordingly for the determination of his client’s fate.
State Prosecutor Godfred Dame, on his part, reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring the case is duly heard and that the accused are prosecuted if found guilty.
Aisha Huang is in court over charges of mining without a license and engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals, four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license.
She is also facing four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry were filed at the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Friday, September 16, 2022.
Her case has since been adjourned to October 24, 2022, for case management.
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, has denied allegations that he is involved in illegal small-scale mining (‘galamsey’).
He said that he will never do anything to hurt his company or ruin the image of his party, the NPP, adomonline.com reports.
The regional chairman added that if he wanted to do illegal mining, he will not go through the trouble to acquire the mining licenses he has.
“I won’t do things to hurt my company; I won’t do things to hurt this party (NPP). In 2017, I could have easily moved to the site to work but I waited untill I got the license before beginning my operations.
“If someone wants to do galamsey, would the person apply for a lease? You can’t go to the police if you want to engage in a criminal activity,” he said.
Wontumi added that his only intention in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve was to drive out ‘galamseyers’ as he awaits the permission of the lands minister to start mining.
“It is like a man who has gone in for a woman and visited her family to perform the knocking ceremony. If another guy wants to rape the lady, you have expressed interest in, won’t you protect your lady? I have the gazette and this is law and if galamsey operators want to destroy my site, shouldn’t I protect the place?” he quizzed.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has directed the Forestry Commission to suspend the operations of Akonta Mining Company in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve of the Amenfi West Municipal Assembly.
According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs office of the Ministry on Friday, September 30, 2022, the company owned by the ruling NPP Chairman for Ashanti Region has been engaging in mining activities in the forest without a permit.
“The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to publications about certain operations by Akonta Mining Limited in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality in the Western Region.
“Records available to the Ministry show that while Akonta Mining Ltd has a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, while Akonta Mining Company had applied for a permit to mine in the said forest reserve, the Minister had yet to give approval to any such application hence rendering the activities of the firm in the said forest reserve illegal.
Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CoHSS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Charles Marfo has asserted that the Akonta Mining scandal is nothing less than a feign attempt to conceal the real galamsey culprits in the country, Purefmonline.com reports.
The KNUST CoHSS’ Provost in interaction with Kwame Adinkrah on Kumasi-based Pure FM emphasized that, the owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited, Benard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi, having flaunted his wealth and his mining exploits blatantly in the past has in an unfortunate circumstance been set up as the galamsey poster-boy to cover the high-ranking government officials behind the practice.
Prof. Charles Marfo in commiserating with Chairman Wontumi maintained his disdain for the Ashanti regional NPP’s Chairman’s conduct in the public space.
“Everybody knows that I don’t like Chairman Wontumi, especially on how he conducts himself in the public space. His utterances and his constant display of his so-called mining acquired wealth in our faces,” he said.
However, in respect of this saga, I think they set him up. They put him there just to showcase his already mortified face while the real masterminds are working underground.”
“Why has he not been apprehended for the despicable damage caused to the environment yet?”
“This mischief is just a decoy to hide the hidden coaches who are the real galamsey players.”
The real scapegoats are not from among any of these unmasked personalities tagged with galamsey, instead, they are at the top manning the affairs of governance.”
“Why will the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor decide to even grant consideration to Akonta Mining’s request for licence to mine in a forest reserve when that place has been clearly declared a red zone?”
How can you do prospecting in a forest reserve? A reserve?
The application should not have warranted any engagement from the Ministry at all.
These inactions and occurrences together inflate the idea that there are hidden hands in government really fancying the galamsey practice.” Prof. Charles Marfo told Kwame Adinkrah on Pure FM.
Background
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources through the Forestry Commission has halted the activities of Akonta Mining Limited’s operations in the Nimiri Tano forest reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region.
A statement from the ministry said, while the mining company had a lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, the company had no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve.
The Minerals Commission of Ghana in a subsequent press release reiterated that Akonta Mining Limited has no mining lease, mineral right, and/or permit to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve or any other reserve.
According to the Commission, the mineral leases granted to Akonta Mining Limited fell outside the Tano Nimiri Reserve, and thus documents purporting to indicate otherwise should be treated with the contempt they deserve.
The owner of the company who doubles as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has however refuted claims of wrongdoing.
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work.”
“I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey.”
“I have a large scale company which Akonta mining is under. All the required documents I have, I will make available. I am not into galamsey,” he said on Wontumi TV.
In a letter to the Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, OccupyGhana claims that his direction is insufficient because the mining laws are clear about the consequences for violating companies and their officials.
The group wants the Minister to refer the facts and evidence available to him that show that Akonta Mining is operating in breach of the law, and which formed the basis for the directive, to the police and the Attorney-General for further investigation and prosecution of the company and its directors and officers.
Below is the letter by OccupyGhana.
30 September 2022
The Minister Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Accra
Attention: Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP
Re: Minister Directs Forestry Commission to Halt Akonta Mining Limited’s Operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve
Just two days ago, on 28 September 2022, we wrote an open letter to the President to ‘ensure that the law, namely the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, is enforced without fear and favour and irrespective of whose ox is gored.’ Today, we have seen a Press Release from your Ministry, stating that you have directed the Forestry Commission to halt the mining operations of a company called Akonta Mining Limited in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. You state that the basis for this directive is that the said company is undertaking the mining operations without a mining lease (we have attached a copy of your Press Release to this letter, for ease of reference.)
While congratulating you on this step, we would be taken aback if that was all you did. If the company is engaged in the activities that you have alleged, then it is committing an offence that is punishable by fines and prison terms between 15 and 25 years. Specifically, section 99(2)(a) of Act 703 provides that:
‘A person who, without a licence granted by the Minister, undertakes a mining operation contrary to a provision of this Act, … commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than ten thousand penalty units and not more than fifteen thousand penalty units and to a term of imprisonment of not less than fifteen years and not more than twenty-five years.’
The company’s directors and officers would also be culpable because under section 107(1)(a) of Act 703,
‘Where an offence is committed under this Act or under Regulations made under this Act by a body of persons, in the case of a body corporate …, each director or an officer of the body shall also be considered to have committed the offence.’
We therefore demand that you forthwith refer the facts and evidence in your possession that show that the said mining company is undertaking mining operations in breach of the Act, to the police and the Attorney-General for further investigations and prosecution of the company and its directors and officers.
We are copying the Attorney-General, Inspector-General of Police, Minerals Commission, and Forestry Commission on this letter and demanding that they take immediate steps to enforce the law.
Yours in the service of God and Country
OccupyGhana
Attorney-General & Minister of Justice Office of the Attorney-General & Ministry of Justice Accra
The Inspector-General of Police Police Headquarters Accra
The envoy’s visit was to formally invite the Minister to a forum on cocoa slated for Monday, October 3, 2022, as well as to discuss issues of relevance to both nations.
The Dutch ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul on Friday, September 30, 2022, led a delegation from the Dutch Embassy to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The visit by the envoy and his entourage were to formally invite the Minister to a cocoa forum scheduled for Monday, 3 October 2022, and to discuss matters of mutual interest to both countries.
In his opening remarks, Jeroen Verheul indicated that his major focus is strengthening the economic and diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Netherlands.
He disclosed that the growth of the Ghanaian agriculture sector is of key interest to the Dutch government. The cocoa industry is at the heart of their plans for Ghana and they desire to see the development of the sector.
Jeroen Verhel stated further that his outfit recognizes the importantrole the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources plays in the agriculture sector of Ghana and deems it necessary to solicit the Ministry’s support and opinion on their plans, strategies, and programs for the Agriculture sector.
On his part, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, acknowledged the effort of the Netherlands in the preservation and protection of Ghana’s forest cover and wildlife conservation.
Jinapor thanked the Netherlands for their long-standing friendship and collaboration and called for stronger and enhanced economic ties between both countries.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinaporis blaming Chiefs, District Security Councils, Mineral Commission officials, and regional authorities for the worsening state of illegal mining in the country.
According to him, irrespective of enforcement efforts by the government, the galamsey situation will not improve if people in mining communities do not help authorities in addressing the menace.
Government appears to be struggling to address the issue of illegal mining in Ghana, as many people continue to get involved in it. Vast lands have been destroyed, and water bodies have not been spared.
The activities of these illegal miners are very visible in various mining communities, as the level of devastation speaks volumes.
In an area such as Manso Datano in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region, hectares of land have been destroyed. This is common in many mining communities in the Ashanti Region and other mining areas.
Citing the Manso Datano case as an example, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor said it is curiously obvious that various stakeholders such as chiefs, and district and regional authorities among others have been aiding the activities.
“I come from a palace and I can say without a shred of equivocation that in most cases, no one, and I repeat, no one can bring a chain saw to harvest in the forest or an excavator to mine in the bush or chanfang to work on a river body in a community without the knowledge, acquiescence or passive approval somehow of the Chief, Elders, the assemblymen, opinion leaders and or local authorities in the community. We have to begin to be blunt about this situation on our hands. It is the honest truth and, sadly for me, I am having to say it and do so publicly. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have heard that on Thursday 29th September 2022 on behalf of the president of the republic, I paid a working visit to our men and women in uniform–the operation halt two team in Manso Datano in the Amansie South District.”
”I was shocked by what I saw. Almost a whole community has been created in the heart of the forest with poultry and goat rearing, beds, a kitchen, and bathrooms among others. The devastation must have been occasioned by years, if not decades of destruction. The question I ask is, how could this have happened on the blind side of the Chief, elders, assemblymen, unit committee members, district police commander, district chief executive, district officers of the minerals commission, forestry commission, environmental protection agency and the members of the community? I do not seem to tarnish the reputation of any person or institution, but I dare say that even regional authorities may not be able to escape from this particular situation and feign ignorance of it”.
The minister is thus calling for all to be involved in addressing the matter, devoid of partisanship.
The Asantehene’s representative at the event, Asakyirihene, Nana Mensah Bonsu used the occasion to urge students and faculty members at the faculty of renewable natural resources to research into finding the best ways of addressing the illegal mining issue.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, the minister for lands and natural resources, was completely astounded yesterday when he saw the extensive destruction that unlicensed gold miners (galamsey operators) had wrought at Dantano in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
When he saw farmlands the size of four football fields (approximately eight acres) being destroyed by illegal miners and left with massive pits, he shook his head in disbelief.
Mr. Jinapor, who traveled to the region to assess the extent of environmental harm inflicted by galamsey operators, announced that he would be opening an investigation into the devastation.
Mr Jinapor visited the ‘Operation Halt II’ team that undertook a major operation in the area last Monday.
Questions
Mr JInapor wondered whether such vast devastation by illegal miners took place without the knowledge of the district assembly, chiefs, the police and the Minerals Commission.
He said he would be seeking answers from the Inspectorate office of the Minerals Commission.
The minister stated that the depth of the pits showed that such activities had been ongoing for years, and expressed the belief that the traditional and political leaders in the district decided to turn a blind eye to them.
Stakeholders
He said there was no way all the stakeholders in the community could feign ignorance of what went on.
Mr Jinapor urged all Ghanaians to get involved in the fight against illegal mining to protect the environment.
He said the fight should not be left only to the government.
He commended the General Officer Commanding the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, and his men for leading the fight against illegal mining in the region.
He assured them of the government’s support and told the team that they had the full support of the President to clamp down on all illegal mining activities in.the region.
Operations
Briefing the minister, Brig Gen Aphour said on Monday, September 26, 2022 at Datano and at Atwma Mponua, the team seized 11 excavators and burnt those that could not be moved.
He said the personnel were unable to make any arrest as the operators had left the sites before their arrival.
However, he said all their equipment had been destroyed and the excavators sent to some police stations.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has disclosed that based on the information at his disposal, he is certain that Aisha Huang is guilty of the accusations made against her.
Mr Jinapor stated in an interview with journalists that if proven guilty of the allegations against her, ‘Galamsey’ queen Aisha Huang will be prosecuted and imprisoned in a Ghanaian jail.
“Aisha Huang has been arrested today. She is being prosecuted and she will be prosecuted under Ghanaian law in Ghanaian court if she is found guilty which I believe she should be found and I think I am not making prejudicial comments but I am saying that given the fact that I have, I am expecting that Aisha Huang will be found guilty, convicted and sentenced and thrown into Ghanaian jail,” he said.
He further stated that other 154 persons of different nationalities have also been arrested.
These prosecutions, he said, are a testimony to the government’s fight against the menace.
“Not just related to Aisha Huang but generally deal with foreigners. Three or four days ago, we arrested 154 foreigners who were involved in illegal small-scale mining and even how to keep them was a problem…Aisha Huang’s case should not be looked at in isolation, it should be looked at in the context of foreigners being involved in Ghanaian criminality and how we deal with it.
“The assumption that the President’s whole might and effort revolve around Aisha Huang [not true],” he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 164 suspected illegal foreign minershave been apprehended by a military anti-galamsey taskforce, Operation Halt II, in the Eastern Region’s Anyinam and Mampong.
The suspects include 159 men and five women, the majority of whom are foreigners from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Ivory Coast.
The operation, conducted by Ghana’s Armed Forces, forms part of the government’s relaunched campaign against “galamsey,” or illegal small-scale mining.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said that Chinese galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang will face the full rigors of the law and spend jail time in Ghana if found guilty of engaging in illegal mining activities popularly referred to as galamsey.
In an interview on Face to Face, a program on Accra-based Citi TV, the minister expressed optimism in the evidence he is privy to, stating that he was confident it could land the Chinese national a conviction.
According to him, this can be made possible following the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s reformation of the laws to proffer tougher and stiffer sanctions on persons, particularly foreigners, who engage in the illicit activity.
He indicated for instance that judges under Act 995 can no longer have the discretion to award fines against foreigners who are found on the wrong side of the law.
“Aisha Huang has been arrested today. She is being prosecuted and she will be prosecuted under Ghanaian law, Ghanaian court. If she is found guilty and I believe she should and would be found, I believe so…I hope so and I am not making prejudicial comment but given the facts that I have, I am expecting that Aisha Huang will be found guilty, convicted and sentenced and thrown into Ghanaian jail.
“That should become possible because of the substantive legislative and policy intervention that the government of President Akufo-Addo is putting in place. If we did not, a judge would have had the discretion to fine her for example and there’s nothing that the government could have done.
“Working with Parliament, we brought Act 995 which ousted the discretion from a judge sitting in court to mete out a fine to a foreigner who is found to be involved in illegal mining activities,” Abu Jinapor said.
The minister who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Damongo also said the focus of the galamsey fight should not be on only Aisha Huang.
He mentioned that government was doing its bit to arrest all foreign nationals who are engaged in galamsey.
He disclosed that 154 foreign nationals for example were arrested by the state security service in the course of the week.
“Not just related to Aisha Huang but generally deal with foreigners. Three or four days ago, we arrested 154 foreigners who were involved in illegal small-scale mining and even how to keep them was a problem…Aisha Huang’s case should not be looked at in isolation, it should be looked at in the context of foreigners being involved in Ghanaian criminality and how we deal with it.
He suggested that it is not true “the assumption that the President’s whole might and effort revolve around Aisha Huang.”
Aisha Huang was recently arrested for engaging in galamsey-related activities. She is reported to have entered the country via the Togo border after her deportation.
She appeared in court on September 14 together with three other accomplices to answer the state’s charge against them.
The initial charges were mining without a valid license and engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a permit.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded into police custody and set to reappear on September 27.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General last Friday, filed four new charges against Ms. Huang. The new charges are undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, and the illegal employment of foreigners and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.
The Lands Commission has sensitised members of the Western North Regional House of Chiefs on the new Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) to ensure efficient land management.
The workshop formed part of the Commission’s continuous efforts to equip and empower the traditional leaders with information on their roles under the Act.
Speaking at the event in Sefwi-Wiawso, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the President of the House and Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, urged members of the House to take the engagement seriously and drum home the message to their respective traditional areas.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, also the President of the National House of Chiefs, said the training would empower them to be more efficient in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Timothy Anyidoho, the Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer, expressed appreciation to the House for giving the Commission the opportunity to educate them on the Act and brainstorm on some land related matters.
He noted that the Sector Minister, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, was very passionate about the exercise and entreated all stakeholders to participate fully in order to be abreast of the law.
Mr Anyidoho highlighted some sections of the Act, which were relevant to their work as custodians of their lands.
He cited Section 9 (2) which states: “A person shall not create an interest in or right over any stool, skin, clan or family land that vest in that person, another person or body of persons a freehold interest in that land.”
The Section 98 (1) also states that “An action concerning any land or interest in land in registration district shall not be commenced in any court unless the procedure for resolution under Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 Act 798 have been exhausted.”
Nana Kojo Essilfie, the Head of Land Registration Division, Tema, on his part, gave further explanations on relevance of those Sections as traditional leaders to help them resolve land related matters that may come before them.
He said the Commission would not relent on its efforts in sensitizing key stakeholders on the new legislation because it helped in resolving land management cases.
Madam Afua Abrafi, the Western North Regional Lands Officer, on behalf of the Commission, presented copies of the Land Act to the House and assured them of its preparedness to support the House to deal with land related matters.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has requested that the Forestry and Land Commissions, as well as the Owoo Family, furnish the ministry with information on all transactions surrounding the Achimota Forest.Â
The Minister wants to find out what exactly has happened since 1927 when about 1,185 acres of land were acquired by the State and later constituted as a Forest Reserve in 1930 under the name Achimota Firewood Plantation Forest Reserve.
The CEO of the Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey, is expected to submit all leases granted by the Forestry Commission over the land, any amendment or variations to those leases, as well as any sublease or assignment granted over any part of the land.
In a press statement dated May 26, Mr Allotey is to submit the documents within a week.
Also, in a separate letter, James Ebenezer Dadson, the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, has been asked to provide the ministry with information on “de-gazetting, leases, subleases, assignments, and other transfer or disposition of any part of the lands in question, whether made by the Forestry Commission or any other person.â€
The Nii Owoo family, said to be allodial owners of the land, are expected to submit to his office all subleases and assignments granted by the Family to any person.
They are also to provide the names and addresses of all beneficiary owners of any part of the land acquired in 1927, per the statement.
The request follows the recent Achimota Forest brouhaha which involves declassification of the said land.
Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, in an Executive Instrument (E.I) 144 on behalf of the President stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.
He noted that portions of the land will be returned to the Owoo family and government will redevelop the remaining into the likes of “High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature.â€
It will be recalled that former Lands Minister, Inusah Fuseini said the Owoo family had been duly compensated by the British colonial government for the land.
According to him, an amount of £4000 pounds was given to the family 1951. Also, he indicated that under his administration, aboutninety to hundred acres of the land was released to the family.
It was also reported that former late Forestry Commission CEO, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, owned some lands at the Achimota Forest but the Lands Commission has rejected claims that Sir John owned portions of the land.
Following the alleged ownership of lands by Sir John, some Ghanaians are wondering if some public officials have acquired portions of state property.
The documents to be presented to the Lands Ministry will help bring finality to the matter.
