Tension mounts in Gbane over alleged encroachment of mining concession by a Chinese mining firm

A Section of the irate youth

Police having a tough time controlling the crowd

An irate youth displaying his placard

Talensi DCE   responding to the petition laid before her

24-03-2012           

About 500 irate youth of Gbane, a mining community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region yesterday besieged the offices of the District Chief Executive and the Regional Minister to present their petition to them. The petition was to expressed their displeasure about the illegal mining activities perpetuated by one local mining firm known as Yenyeya mining group and a Chinese mining company, Shanxy mining, now China Gold. The angry youth led by the assembly member for the Gaare-Gbane electoral area, Bismark Zumah embarked on a peaceful demonstration with a procession right from Gbane to the Talensi District Assembly through to Bolgatanga with some holding placards that read: “We want to reclaim our land”,  “We are made slaves in our own land”, “Chinese people are killing us”, and “We deserve our right to survive” among others. At the Talensi District Assembly, the police had a tough time controlling the crowd because of the numbers and threatened to deal with anybody who misbehaved or cause any violent scene.  Presenting the petition, the assembly member for the area, Bismark Zumah expressed mishap about the activities of the said Chinese firm, describing them as a bunch of invaders who are insensitive to the plight of the local people after conniving with one Charles Ndaanbon and one Simon Atibya, of the minerals commission and also an alleged consultant to China Gold to acquire about 747.410 acres of plots for their mining activities. According to Mr Zuma the youth are waging their anger on the chief of the area, Naba Zelimsome na Maalteng for playing a fictitious role in the acquisition of land by the Chinese. He said the youth have threatened not to spare the chief if all allegations leveled against him find out to be true. Secondly, they demand that Mr Ndanbon together with Mr. Atibya of the minerals commission be interdicted for defrauding the entire Gbane community.    Activities of the Chinese mining company, he pointed out are done outside Yenyeya mining concession and should also be put to a halt within seven days to prevent bloodshed, as it contravenes act 703, section 82 and 91 of the 1992 constitution.  Moreover the Chinese firm since its operations had failed to fulfill its corporate social responsibility as royalties due the chief are not paid. The people in the community, he further lamented are exposed to all kinds of health hazards. Mr Zumah in his closing remark, pleaded for compensation to be paid for indigenes, who in one way or the other lost their concessions to China Gold. All other allegations were spelt out to the hearing of the DCE. He however appealed to the DCE to look into the matter and provide workable remedy to prevent any catastrophe. The DCE in response to the concerns raised pledged to tackle the issue to the latter and called on the youth to exercise restraint whilst solution is being provided to bring about peace in the area and the district at large. At the RCC, the Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo also assured the leadership of the irate youth of a solution to the problem and further pledged to put in place a vibrant committee to investigate into the matter.

GBC                                                               END                                                  IA/