Member of Parliament for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini has disclosed that in 2021, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources spent a whooping Ghc 11,304, 120 exclusively on dialogues and regional tours to engage security services and traditional leaders on the issue of galamsay and especially mining in forest reserves.
He made this revelation in a post shared on his social media platforms.
Alhassan Suhuyini revealed this to question why the Minister after wasting resources to assure Chiefs and elders in the country that there will not be mining in especially forest reserves, his outfit continues to give out prospecting licenses to mining companies.
“After spending a whopping eleven million, three hundred and four thousand, one hundred and twenty Ghana cedis (Ghs 11,304,120) in 2021, exclusively on dialogues and regional tours to engage security services and traditional leaders on the issue of galamsay and especially mining in forest reserves, the least our Minister of Land and Natural Resources and his Deputies can do is to enforce their own assurances to the Chiefs and Security Services they interacted with during the very costly tours,” he said.
He added that “Clearly the Minister has since his expensive public show of commitment to the protection of forest reserves, against destructive mining firms, has quietly granted more than 25 prospecting licenses to different companies, many of which are destructively prospecting in many of our nation’s forest”.
Suhuyini expressed concerns over the invasion of a forest reserve for the Samatex Timber and Plywood Operations by Akonta Mining which secured an entry permit from the Forestry Commission on 8/08/2022 for prospecting and since 12th August has been destroying the forest cover in the area.
Read His Statement Below
PLEASE WALK YOUR TALK Hon Minister!
After spending a whopping eleven million, three hundred and four thousand, one hundred and twenty Ghana cedis (Ghs 11,304,120) in 2021, exclusively on dialogues and regional tours to engage security services and traditional leaders on the issue of galamsay and especially mining in forest reserves, the least our Minister of Land and Natural Resources and his Deputies can do is to enforce their own assurances to the Chiefs and Security Services they interacted with during the very costly tours.
The Minister on countless occasions reiterated that no mining will be tolerated in forest reserves. Indeed he on such occasions disingenuously assured that culprits will be dealt with without favor and that fresh permits/license will not and should not be issued for reconnaissance,prospecting and or mining in forest reserves.
Clearly the Minister has since his expensive public show of commitment to the protection of forest reserves, against destructive mining firms, has quietly granted more than 25 prospecting licenses to different companies, many of which are destructively prospecting in many of our nation’s forest.
It was first alleged by CSOs that licenses were granted to companies to prospect or mine around the Mole National park, which was dismissed by the Minerals Commission. It was again reported that Vimetco Ghana Bauxite Ltd, got a permit to do prospecting in the Atewa forest reserve despite civil society protests and court actions.
Today it is Akonta Mining which secured an entry permit from the Forestry Commission on 8/08/2022 for prospecting and since 12th August has been destroying the forest cover in the area. Mr Minister, if not for the cost of the lavish tour and dialogues you held but out of respect you should accord distinguished citizens, especially chiefs, who believed your rhetoric, act now!
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