The Minerals Commission of Ghana has revealed that Akonta Mining Company Limited has no mining lease in the forest, or any other permits or authorizations required to undertake lawful mining operations in forest reserves.
This follows a directive by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, that the company’s license be revoked for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities in the Nirim Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
“Our records show that Akonta applied for a prospecting licence to prospect for minerals in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. The application for the prospecting licence was later withdrawn, and the Company applied for a mining lease over a portion of the Forest Reserve on 25th August 2022.
The application for the mining lease was not signed by the previous Minister. Currently, the Company has no mining lease to mine in the forest, nor does it have a forest entry permit to enter and undertake any mining operations or activities whatsoever. Therefore, Akonta has no mining lease in the forest, or any other permits or authorisations required to undertake mining operations lawfully in the forest.”
According to the Minerals Commission, in its statement dated 30th September 2022, Akonta had no mineral rights to undertake any mineral operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
“It is important to note that for any lawful mining operation to be undertaken, the Company must have:
- A ratified Mining Lease,
- An Environmental Permit issued by the Environmental Protection Authority, and
- An Operating Permit issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines of the Commission,” it added.
Management of Akonta Mining Company Limited has strongly refuted claims of engaging in illegal activities, describing the directive by the sector minister as politically motivated.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM 103.5FM/Prince Essien
