The lifespan of a potential second biggest mine in the Adansi enclave of the Ashanti Region is under threat as illegal miners seize the concession being prepared for takeoff.
Over 200 acres of mine concession is now under siege by the illegal miners who have succeeded in driving out the legal operators.
Presently, the concession has been forcibly taken over by some persons allegedly working under the leadership of the NDC Vice Chairman in the Obuasi West Constituency, Alhaji Zamba.
With excavators, a part of the concession is being mined unsustainably while others dig trenches in the belly of the earth for their operations.
Staff of the company with documentation for operations at the concession were threatened to cease all activities in the area.
Managing Director of Mining and Construction Services, Andy Amoah reveals, “Zamba and his team invaded the concession, and they warned as against coming to the concession. I was there myself and I had my fair share.”
According to the company, a taskforce of the Assembly led by Chairman Zamba, in May this year, confronted management to halt activities at the mine.
The company provided documentation and evidence of its responsible mining activity, but the taskforce insisting the company leased a portion of the land for galamsey activities.
A team of National Security operatives who had subsequently demanded for operating licenses granted the company permission to mine after they satisfied all requirements.
But the illegal miners have refused to leave the concession insisting the area was given to the communities under the previous John Mahama administration.
Obuasi West Vice Chairman of NDC, Alhaji Zamba has admitted to leading the charge but was silent on documentation.
In a tiktok video, the NDC Vice Chairman sends a direct message to the President, “John Mahama, the site you gave to us, so we desist from going into AGAs concession has been given to one Andy Amoah. After we returned to power, we have gone to take over the place but some leaders in Kumasi have taken money from the man to protect the concession for him”.
In 2020, the concession in question was blocked out in sizes of 25 acres by the Minerals Commission after being returned to government by Anglogold Ashanti.
According to management of Mining and Construction Services, the company succeeded in taking up over 200 acres of the concession with catchment communities, including Nyankyerem, Akatakyieso, Anamon and Adaase.
The company, with the intention of going into underground mining operations, secured all licenses needed for takeoff.
Managing Director, Andy Amoah says the impacted communities were also engaged to ensure peaceful co-existence.
“We have been able to establish an eleven-member standing committee that will take care of the affairs of the Foundation that we had formed, and the pledge is that we are going to donate two dollars for every ounce mined into the foundation,” he said.
For over four years, Mining and Construction Services has invested in exploration and other pre-production works awaiting construction of a processing plant and others.
With a secured investment of 168 million dollars, the mine is estimated to produce one hundred thousand ounces of gold in thirteen years.
Mr. Amoah says the mine is nearing exploration.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi West, Faustilove Appiah Kannin at an assembly meeting, denied knowledge of the issue.
She further extended an invitation to the assembly members to lodge a complaint for further investigations.
Alhaji Zamba has failed to grant a recorded interview when contacted but has admitted to leading the takeover.
