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General News of Saturday, June 1st, 2019
Source: clbadfmonline.com
2019-06-01
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo badured Ghanaians that the exploitation of bauxite in the Atewa forest would be guided by international best practices and technologies to ensure that wildlife in the mining environment does not occur. not be threatened.
Speaking at the Sustainable Ocean Industries Conference organized under the auspices of the Ghana Petroleum Commission, Aker Energy and the Norwegian Embbady in Ghana, as part of a two-day official visit to Ghana. Norwegian Prime Minister in Ghana at the Labadi Beach Hotel, President Akufo-Addo, in an answer to a question on whether the exploitation of bauxite in the forest will not jeopardize the situation. environment, said that it was a very legitimate balance to achieve and that the country's leaders were seeking to achieve the same balance.
"Current technology is much more sensitive to these problems because of the pressure on bauxite and oil companies to take into account.So, to some extent, from now on, large-scale operation Ghanaian equivalency resources, we are in a better place, from a technology point of view, than we would have been 20 or 30 years ago, "said the President.
He further stated: "I am satisfied with what has been said and what has been shown that it is possible to pull out this red mud without disturbing the fauna that reigns in it. the Atewa mountains ".
The president also badured the nation that the executive will closely monitor the bauxite sector in order to lead the country's development successfully, while ensuring maximum protection of the environment and stockpile. wild animals in mining areas.
"What's important for us is to keep our eyes on these two goals. The requirement of development, but also the balance that we must reconcile with the environment when we conduct mining activities.
Norwegian Prime Minister
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said that the Sustainable Development Goal 14, which states that "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources", is at the heart of the world. space of resource exploitation in the world. She urged mining stakeholders to take appropriate measures using technologies to protect the environment and, in this case, the existence of man on the earth.
Aker Energy
Aker Energy, a Ghanaian energy and oil company forming part of the larger group of Aker companies based in Norway, is committed to continuing its investments in the energy sector and to supporting all efforts to protect the environment in the mining areas where they are located. have an interest.
Just two days ago, the Ghana Christian Council asked the government to reconsider its decision to extract bauxite from the Atewa forest in the eastern region.
GIADEC has been tasked with promoting and developing an aluminum industry by expanding the value chain to include bauxite mining, as well as refining, smelting and marketing. Finished products.
Several non-governmental organizations and environmental activists have opposed government plans to exploit in the forest.
Contributing to the ongoing discussion, the Christian Council said in a letter to the president: "The extraction of bauxite will undoubtedly require the elimination of the forest, because the deposits are only a few meters from the horizon and extend over a vast. "
The Christian group said: "It will be impossible to restore the landscape thus created, because the layer of organic matter will be removed during the exploitation and it will probably take centuries for the lost flora and fauna to be restored if they do not recover. are not completely destroyed. faded away."
The Christian Council said that instead of mining, the government should instead create a national park in the forest.
"The creation of a new national park is an option that enjoys great public support among communities destined to become forests and so dependent on the forest. A new national park in Atewa Forest can create jobs and sustainable livelihoods for many people and, as part of a living landscape, create new economic opportunities, "said Council Christian in his letter.
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