Youth for Action Ghana, YfAG over the weekend schooled the Akyem Dompem village of the Eastern region to demand permits first from any company that claims to have concession rights over their lands.
YfAG is a respected youth focused civil society organization that seeks environmental protection, promotes extractive sector accountability and responsible governance. Led by the Executive Director, Mr James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, the team of YfAG responded to an invitation by the Akyem Dompem community to seek education on their rights with respect to mining.
The call by the community was triggered by the activities of ELITE MINING Company which claims that they have concession rights transferred to them by one MED MINING company. Without any formal demonstration of holding any legal permit these two companies have been in the area for the past five years together.
Addressing the Abusuapanin and the elders present, Mr Bomfeh said, “the first thing you must demand from any company that claims to have rights of a concession of this nature is their licence or permit to be here in the first place.”
Relying on provisions of the Minerals and Mining Law, 2006; Act 703, the YfAG leader was emphatic that only the President or his assigns can grant anyone the permit to operate either by way of reconnaissance, prospecting or exploration or to mine. “These licenses are not transferrable. So if anyone comes to say that a concession has been transferred to them, then it automatically raises eyebrows.” Mr Bomfeh stressed.
Kwabena Ampaben-Kyereme who is the Administrative Director of YfAG assured the community of the readiness of the organization to help them to fight unruliness and disregard for the law by any company.
Barima Owusu Amo Ameyaw, the chief of Akyem Premkuma who is also the Akyeamehene of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area joined the meeting and narrated how reckless mining was a threat to the land, water and entire environment.
Following the meeting a was the lodging of a formal complaint by the community at the Akyem Akropong Police Station through the Dompemman Secretary, Opanin Ayim Poakwa in the company of the YfAG leaders and Boborbor, a reporter for the Despite Media Group based in Anyinam.
Information TNF gathered from the interaction was attempts by the ELITE Company to link the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area to their suspected activities by holding meetings with the community leaders at kyebi instead of Dompem.
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