I have mining lease for 13 more years – Wontumi defends Akonta Mines

Wealthy-maverick-politician, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi has said the Government of Ghana has granted his gold mining company, Akonta Mining Limited, an official mining lease which would expire in the year 2035 and therefore the company’s mining activities are legal and cannot be described as ‘galamsey’- a local parlance which means illegal small-scale, gold mining.

“As I speak to you today, Akonta Mining has a lease that would be renewed by Government in the year 2035. The official lease issued to Akonta Mining would expire in 2035” Wontumi noted in an interview on his television station Monday night.

Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chair of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said the mining lease given to his company is in the same category or class of mining lease given to the multinational gold mining companies operating in Ghana and a check from the Minerals Commission would prove the legality of his company’s mining activities.

He said the solution to the challenge confronting his company and the much publicized disagreements does not lie in propaganda and emotions but rather in what the law says and the legitimacy of his mining documents.

He continued: “In 2013, there was a similar propaganda against me that I was involved in illegal mining and they used that excuse to burn my vehicles. The difference between legal and illegal mining is whether or not you have the right documents and the Minerals Commission is regulating and monitoring your activities. Because you have the right documents, you would be forced to do the right thing.

“I have four concessions at Samaboi. One is for prospecting and the other three, I have lease on them.  When you go to the Minerals Commission, you can see these records there to prove.

“Some four or five months ago when I decided to enter my concessions, a lot of galamsey people had intruded and I had to sack them. Just when I was about to start work again, others raised protests and I had to prove with all my documents and licenses. Those who are challenging me have not produced any documents but I have produced mine”, Chairman Wontumi added.

The NPP Regional Chair, during the interview, disagreed with a suggestion that whether or not he had a mining lease, the activities of his company was destroying the forest.

Wontumi explained why he disagreed: “The way mining works is that you would pay compensation for the trees even before you start work and when you are done, you do reclamation of the forest. This is how it works. That is how all the big mining companies work. All the recognized multinational mining companies in Ghana are working in the forests but they pay for their operations and they use the right means because they are licensed companies.”

He continued: “this is not about propaganda or about emotions. It is how the law works.  I am just appealing to the police commander in Takoradi that what happened yesterday should not repeat itself. I am appealing to the police to use the laws and let he laws work. All those who have burnt my cars and all that, they should do their investigations and let the laws work. That is all I Want.”

Wontumi explained why he has restrained himself and what he believes should be the way forward: “I am keeping quite because of the law.  I have the legitimate documents and I would make them available. My mining lease covers everywhere my company is mining.  That is the truth. I am operating legally.

“Last week, a committee was set in place headed by Hon. Benito and all parties were asked to be present with their documents for us to find a lasting solution. The CEO for the other company did not show up. He is not even the owner, he is just the CEO but he said he was not feeling well so the meeting was adjourned till Monday.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has ordered Wontumi’s company, Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest.

The Ministry explained that  though Akonta Mining Limited has a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, “the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve”.

The Ministry in a statement issued on Friday, September 30, 2022, said the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has directed the Forestry Ministry to, “forthwith, ensure that the company does not carry out any operation in the Forest and to take the necessary action against any person found culpable in this matter”.

“Our records show that Akonta Mining Ltd, on August 25, 2022, applied for a Mining Lease to undertake mining operations in the said Forest Reserve. By a Ministerial Directive, all reconnaissance, prospecting, and/or exploratory activities in Forest Reserves in the country are suspended, except in exceptional circumstances.

“Although this directive does not affect mining in Forest Reserves, Akonta Mining Limited’s application has not been determined. Accordingly, any alleged activity being undertaken by the company in the Forest Reserve is illegal”, the Ministry stated.