Winneba Ramsar Site Not Given Out For Mining – Minerals Commission

The Minerals Commission has rubbished claims suggesting that a miming right has been granted a company, Green Metals Resources Limited, to mine lithium at Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site and Yenku forest reserve, all at Winneba in the Central Region.

This follows agitations from Traditional Authorities of Effutu and residents who have warned they would thwart any attempt to allow mining activities in the aforesaid areas, considered as sacred by the people of the area.

According to the chiefs led by their Paramount Chief, Nyenyi Ghartey VII, the people of Effutu will not accept any form of “development” that would destroy their environment.

But the Commission in a swift response strongly stated, nothing of that sort has been done, adding that it will not recommend the grant of any mineral right to a company without the consent of the Chiefs and the communities in accordance with the mining laws of Ghana.

In a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Martin Ayisi and sighted by The Anchor said, “It is important to state that, under the mining laws of Ghana, the chiefs and the communities must be consulted before any mineral rights can be recommended by the commission and same granted for any mineral activity or operation to take place in any area in Ghana”.

According to the Commission, “Green Metals Resource Limited (Green metals) did apply for a mineral rights in the area but the Commission has not recommended the grant of any mineral right nor has the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources granted any mineral right or lease to the company or to any company to explore or mine any mineral in the area in question”.

It stressed that, “The Commission will not recommend the grant of any mineral right for Green Metals in the area and the company has been advised accordingly”.

The statement however noted that, the Commission has requested a meeting with the traditional authorities and Assembly and others for discussions on processes relation to the acquisition of mineral right in the country.

“The Commission has requested a meeting with the Omanhene, the traditional council, the Municipal Assembly and the Asafo groups to discuss the procedures in the acquisition of the mineral right in Ghana and explain that nothing of that sort had been done”‘ the statement concluded.

Source: Anchorghana.com