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General News of Monday, January 28, 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-01-28
Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources,
Concerned Talensi youth and relatives of the victims of the Gbane mine disaster in Talensi district, in the far east of the country, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Shaanxi Mining Company from the district.
They alleged that since the beginning of the company's operations in the district, 61 people had died as a result of its operations.
"We want to state unequivocally that the community is tired of the frequent death of our people and that, therefore, we can not live with them, they should pack their bags and leave, otherwise we will inform them", he declared.
press conference
At a press conference held at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital morgue last Friday night, Talensi Vice President of the "Talensi Concerned Youth," Bismark Azumah, said the company had intentionally used powerful explosives containing toxic gases.
He said the company was not complying with basic security measures, putting people's lives at risk.
He claimed that the company had barely pbaded a public notice before blasting mining explosives and that the least it could have done was to use a vehicle to publicly announce the blast. imminent.
Regulatory Bodies
Mr. Azumah also blamed public institutions that had not prevented mining-related disasters in the community since the arrival of the company more than ten years ago.
He added that the community had never seen any recommendation from any institution in case of an accident and that the Minerals Commission had not engaged the community either, as provided for in the mining regulations.
Victims not unlawful
Mr. Azumah said that the claim that the victims of the disaster were illegal miners was false and called for fair compensation for their families and loved ones.
The acting president of the Small-Scale Miners Association, Robert Tampoare, said the deaths were too many for them.
"There are no institutions or services without control, the activities of my colleagues and their investment partners are not beneficial for Talensi, but I do not blame them, I want them to the authorities. to kill our people and nobody cares, "he said.
He added that if the Shaanxi Mining Company practiced sustainable mining, it would not kill innocent young people, according to the law.
After the press conference, the bodies of the deceased who had undergone an autopsy were handed over to their families for burial.
Shaanxi Mining replies
When contacted, Shaanxi Mining Company's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Maxwell Wooma, stated that safety standards in mining companies were set by the Inspection Division of the Board of Directors. minerals and not by minors.
He stated that the company had met the safety requirements of the Minerals Commission over the years, which is why it had no major claims in its operations, indicating that all incidents over the years involved illegal miners but people. I've always wanted to badociate incidents to the company as an alibi.
"On behalf of the Shaanxi Mining Company, we wish to empathize with bereaved families, those who are dead are our brothers and we believe that one life should not be lost in the search for their livelihood.
"We want to beg them to stay calm while investigations continue," he told the Daily Graphic yesterday.
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