The Akwatia Development Association [AKDA] has lauded government for its timely intervention to take over diamond operations from private company, the Great Consolidated Diamonds Limited [GCDL].
The 1st Vice Chairman of the association, Kwadwo Obeng Darko in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show 'Ghana Montie' described the takeover as a “great step”.
“The Association and entire Akwatiaman wish to express our gratitude to the Government for taking this bold step towards protecting the mine and halting the dissipation of Ghana’s mineral resources in a manner that was calculated to benefit a few individuals and not the generality of the people of Ghana,” A statement signed by the Association’s Secretary read.
Below is the full statement
The Akwatia Development Association (AKDA), after over a year of advocating for the cancellation of the mining leases granted to the Great Consolidated Diamonds Limited (GCDL) is pleased to announce that the fight towards restoring the erstwhile Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Ltd., the mining industry and Akwatia as a whole to its past glory is receiving the needed attention from the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Government).
AKDA is pleased to announce that upon the failure of the Great Consolidated Diamonds Ltd. to meet its obligations under the mining leases granted the GCDL, the Government through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in a letter dated 10th June, 2019, has cancelled the mining leases granted GCDL. In view of the cancellation, it is our hope that GCDL shall restrain itself from dealing with the Assets and mine because any further dealings in the Assets and mine, without the consent of the Government of Ghana, shall be null and void and of no effect.
The Association and entire Akwatiaman wish to express our gratitude to the Government for taking this bold step towards protecting the mine and halting the dissipation of Ghana’s mineral resources in a manner that was calculated to benefit a few individuals and not the generality of the people of Ghana. Whiles we thank the Government for this bold step, we also call on the Government and the Security Agencies to pay attention to protecting the mine, land, buildings and all other assets purportedly granted by the Agreement (the Assets) both tangible and intangible. To this end, it our hope that the Government would do all within its power to prevent GCDL from acting in any manner that would further dissipate and deplete the Assets in the short period they have left to leave the mine and hand over to Government, following the cancellation of the mining leases and the Agreement.
We also wish to the inform the general public to be CAUTIOUS in their dealings with GCDL in as far as they relate to the mine and the Asset. This warning is necessary given that GCDL has recently been engaged in the activity of selling portions of lands within the cancelled mining leases to some individuals for illegal mining enterprises in contravention of the mining leases and the Agreement with the Government and at a time when GCDL knew that the Government had served it notice of its intention to cancel the mining leases.
At this point, we shall call on Nananom, the MP, DCE, the Police, citizens of Akwatia and all Ghanaians to rise up and be counted in the fight to protect the mineral resources and the Assets of the mine until GCDL eventually leaves the mine for a serious and committed entity to take over and revamp same for the benefit of all. In that regard, we call on Government to take all necessary steps to take immediate possession of the mine to prevent any further deliberate dissipation of the mine and the Assets by GCDL.
The Association stands ready in every way possible to help Government carry through its agenda of taking possession of the Assets and mine and shall also request that the Government does all that is necessary to hand over the mine to a viable entity so that we do not go through another phase of disappointment as we have suffered under the management of GCDL.
We commend government for the cancelation of the mining leases by the Great Consolidated Diamonds Ghana Limited after failing to do 1. Aquaculture 2. Provide 2500 direct jobs 3. Provide 50,000 indirect jobs 4. Bring investment to the company 5.Provision of oil Palm plantation of mined out plantations
Government should look at the potential of the mines and channel some of the 1district 1factory opportunities to Akwatia.
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