Our company pays “big money”, why burn our excavators? – NPP Women Organizer fumes

National Women Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Madam Kate Gyamfua expresses disappointed in the joint operation undertaken by the Military and Ghana Police Service Operation Vanguard under the supervision of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to destroy excavators and bulldozers used for illegal mining.

According to Kate Gyamfua, her company pays “big money” royalties, taxes, stool land fees, takes up social responsibility and employ hundreds of local workers, hence sees no reason for the military to raid her legally registered mining site and burnt their mining equipment.

“At the same time that we are paying all these “huge taxes, the military is burning millions of dollars of our mining equipment.” She explained.

NPP Women Organiser speaks after the military burnt her excavators for alleged illegal mining

In a statement, the Xtra-Gold Mining Limited said, the military entered the concessions with them in Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region on May 16, 2021 and burnt 16 excavators and 1 bulldozer.

The statement further said, Xtra-Gold Mining Limited is a illegally registered large scale lease holder of 5 concessions and has all the necessary government permits to conduct mining operations and has been operating since 2006.

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Kate Gyamfua argued that the government’s directive was to burn the equipment of illegal miners, not legal mining companies like Xtra-Gold Mining Limited.

She described the activities of the military as unlawful and a clear violation of the rule of law and should be stopped immediately for the good of Ghana and its citizens.

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SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh