The Minister speaking to journalists at Obuasi
MINISTER OF Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has pledged the government’s readiness to protect the concession of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
According to him, it is government’s policy to forcefully protect AngloGold Ashanti concession through all legal means whilst enforcing the mining laws of the country, touting the importance of AGA’s asserts to the national economy.
Mr. Jinapor said this when he paid a working visit to the AGA mines on Monday, following last week’s invasion of some illegal miners on AGA concession.
He stated that through the instrumentality of President Akufo-Addo, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and other stakeholders, the AGA mine was brought back to life in 2019 after it had been put under care and maintenance.
“This mine was under care and maintenance in 2016 primarily as a result of the illegal activities taking place today,” he stated.
The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Damango Constituency in the Savannah Region said that people were not allowed under any circumstances to invade or attack the concession of AngloGold Ashanti.
“Whoever invades AGA’s concession would be made to face the full rigours of the law. We will arrest, prosecute and make the law takes it cause”, he warned.
Before the tour, the Minister had held separate closed door meetings with the Obuasi Municipal Assembly and Obuasi East District Assembly, traditional rulers in Obuasi, senior management of AngloGold Ashanti and Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners.
When asked by DAILY GUIDE about the fate of the arrested 86 illegal miners who invaded the Anwiam Shaft of the AngloGold Ashanti mines last week, he stated, the laws of the country must take its cause.
“It is like any criminal conduct in Ghana so the normal processes of the law enforcement procedure of our country will be followed. If they are found to have flouted the mining laws of our country they will have to be prosecuted and the court will have to pass judgement and sentence them,” he added.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi