EPA Lauds Nyinahin Residents for Vigilance
Residents of Bauxite mining community Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua in the Ashanti Region have received praises from the Environmental protection agency for the seizure of mining equipment belonging to Exton Cubic Group Limited.
“We want say thanks to the vigilance of the community and the media for also alerting us” Public Relations Officer (PRO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.
“Not that we do not have monitoring a team in place, if they have written to us we could have do monitoring review”, Madam Angelina Tutuaah stated.
“It came to us a surprise on the Monday when we first heard it in the news. …immediately we are alerted we have to take an action”, the PRO disclosed in an interview on Starr FM.
According to Angelina Tutuaah, there is nothing wrong with citizens protecting the environment and warned that it should not be construed as ineffectiveness of the Agency.
“I wouldn’t say we (EPA) are asleep and it should not be an indictment on us”, the PRO indicated at the back of media reports that officials of EPA are not on top of issues.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it has not granted permission to Exton Cubic Group to undertake bauxite mining activities at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region and any attempts by the company to enter the area to mine bauxite, is illegal.
Some irate youth believed to be organized by the District Chief Executive of Atwima Mponua on Monday prevented Engineers & Planners – affiliated to Exton Cubic – from depositing mining equipment at the Nyinahin bauxite concession in the Tano Offin reserve.
The EPA in a statement on Wednesday clarifying the matter has said that “…Exton Cubic Group Limited has not obtained the required EPA permit under its mining lease and therefore, any attempt to enter the area for mining activity is illegal.”
The statement further said “On 29th March 2016, Exton Cubic Group Limited applied for three separate Environmental Permits from the EPA to undertake prospecting of bauxite on its Mprasaso, Kiriyaso, and Kyekyewere concessions in the Ashanti Region covering a total of 346.08 km sq.
Source: otecfmghana.com/Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
