The youth of Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti regiom have made a passionate appeal to Members of Parliament across both sides of the house to ratify the Ashanti Bauxite Limited (ABL) Mining Lease as Parliament reconvenes for an immediate session on Tuesday, September 3rd 2024.
At a peaceful walk across the principal streets of Nyinahin the district capital to register their frustration over what they describe as the needless delay in the ratification of the ABL mining Lease by Parliament, spokesperson for Atwima Mponua Residents Association, Dr. Peter Twum stressed that ratification of the lease is the last major step that will pave the way for the development of a bauxite mine and a refinery solution within Nyinahin and surrounding communities insisting that the delay can no longer be tolerated.
According to Mr. Twum, major developmental projects that will transform the district have eluded them for decades hence their determination to ensure that Parliament ratifies the ABL mining lease before its dissolution.
“Whoever that will oppose the ratification of the ABL mining lease tomorrow is an enemy to progress and we will never forgive that person. This is the closest we have come to seeing something as major as a bauxite mine with a refinery solution about to be developed in our area. We’ve been sitting on the bauxite resources in Nyinahin since Ghana was founded yet our people remain impoverished with no job opportunities for the youth. All that we are asking for is for Parliament to hear our request and ratify the mining lease; he added.
He further stressed that the development of the bauxite mine with a refinery solution will address infrastructure deficits and the lack of social amenities such as schools, hospitals, roads, water, electricity within the affected mine communities. This according to him will significantly bolster the local economy and tackle high unemployment rates especially among the youth.
“We commend the partners of the ABL Joint Venture (JV), the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and Rocksure International (Rocksure) for this initiative but all these plans cannot come into fruition if Parliament does not ratify the mining lease; this is why every member of the community is on the street calling on Parliament to do the needful” Mr. Twum retorted.
Mr. Twum recounted the numerous job opportunities and a buoyant local economy during the initial stages of the project when Rocksure undertook a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to ascertain the quantity and quality of bauxite resources within its concession area.
He said “more than 100 direct and indirect jobs were created just at the MRE stage alone with local artisans like welders, electricians and plumbers engaged for their services. Property owners had their rooms rented for the workers with market women and local chop bar operators seeing a significant jump in their sales; imagine having a ten-fold of that when a bauxite mine with a refinery solution is established in the area” he queried.
The demonstration, which started at the district community park, saw hundreds of residents from Atwima Mponua and surrounding areas marching with drumming and chanting.
Some demonstrators carried placards reading “Ratify ABL Mining Lease to empower our communities, “Our bauxite Our future”, “Now or Never”, “Let bauxite benefit All”. Several civil society organizations such as the Market Women Association, Beauticians and Hairdressers Association, Kusasi Association, Atwima Mponua Nkoso and the Dressmakers Association joined the demonstration in support of the call on Parliament to ratify the ABL mining lease. Other known groups who also joined the demonstration include Pragya Association, Atwima Royals Network, Tano Offin Network, Asanka fun club, Royal ladies, Executive Crew and a host of other groups.
Background
In September 2021, GIADEC partnered with Rocksure International Limited (Rocksure), a wholly Ghanaian-owned company, for Project 2 – the development of a bauxite mine with a refinery solution.
Rocksure successfully completed and submitted a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE Report) for their assigned concession that covers hills 4,5 & 6 of the Nyinahin range of 10 hills.
The report confirmed bauxite find in commercial quantities. The report was presented to President Nana Akufo Addo, at the Jubilee House on 14th November, 2023.
The report was also presented to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
In March 2022, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, gave his blessings to the partnership between GIADEC and Rocksure International to execute Project 2 (Develop a mine in Nyinahin-Mpasaaso with a refinery solution) and together with his sub-chiefs, pledged their support to the project.
A Joint Venture (JV) company known as ‘Ashanti Bauxite Limited’ (ABL) has, subsequently, been established between GIADEC and Rocksure to build a mine at Nyinahin and develop a refinery solution.
The Government of Ghana upon ascertaining that ABL has the financial, technical, and human resources required to undertake the project efficiently agreed to grant the Company a Mining Lease.
The Parties of the Company and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources have executed the Mining Lease and seek ratification by Parliament in accordance with Article 268(1) of the Constitution and Section 5 (4) of Act 703.
The next step is for Parliament to ratify the mining lease granted to ABL.
The Speaker of Parliament, The Right Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 referred the mining lease agreements between the Government of Ghana and Ashanti Bauxite Limited for the extraction of bauxite in the Nyinahin Block B area, specifically hills 4, 5 and 6 out of the 10 range of hills in the Nyinahin area to the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament.
The Speaker also directed that four members of leadership from both sides of the house support the committee in scrutinizing the document.
Parliament on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 advertised for the submission of memoranda from the public on the Ashanti Bauxite Lease Agreement.
With Parliament expected to reconvene for an emergency session on Tuesday, September 3, following a petition from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, proponents of the agreement and other major stakeholders especially traditional leaders and residents of Nyinahin-Mpasaaso are looking forward to the Lands and Forestry Committee to present their report to plenary for ratification.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
