Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for the release on bail of Nalaamtaaba Enterprise Chief Executive Officer, Boya Kolukpolo, and some members of his team, as he joined youth from the Talensi District of the Upper East Region to petition President John Dramani Mahama over a protracted mining dispute.
Mr Kpebu says the continued detention of the company’s CEO, alongside the suspension of mining operations, is worsening economic hardship among residents who depend on the concession for their livelihoods.
The petitioners are also demanding the enforcement of a High Court order which, according to Mr Kpebu, allows Nalaamtaaba Enterprise to continue mining while the substantive dispute involving the company, Shaanxi and the Minerals Commission is being determined.
The demand followed a peaceful demonstration through the principal streets of Bolgatanga, where the youth called for urgent government intervention to resolve the dispute involving the locally owned Nalaamtaaba Enterprise and Chinese-owned Earl International Gold Ghana Limited.
Mr Kpebu led the demonstrators to present their petition to President Mahama through the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.
In the petition, he urged the President to ensure that the police enforce the court order, alleging that some individuals had frustrated efforts to implement it despite the Inspector-General of Police and his legal team having reviewed the order and given the go-ahead for its enforcement.
He called on the President to intervene to ensure that the police secure the concession and allow the company’s workers to return to work.
According to Mr Kpebu, Nalaamtaaba Enterprise provides direct and indirect employment to more than 1,000 people in Talensi, making the prolonged suspension of its operations a major economic concern for the district.
He warned that the continued closure of the concession was worsening unemployment and placing additional hardship on families who depend on the mining activities for their livelihoods.
Describing unemployment as a national security threat, he urged the government to act swiftly to address the situation.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director commended the demonstrators for conducting themselves peacefully.
He assured the petitioners that the document would be forwarded to President Mahama promptly upon the Regional Minister’s return from an engagement relating to the mining industry.
The youth say they are awaiting a response from the Presidency, insisting that resolving the dispute, enforcing the court order and securing the release of the company’s CEO are crucial to restoring mining activities and protecting livelihoods in Talensi.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Moses Anaba| Bolgatanga
