DEPUTY MINISTER OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES HON. MIREKU DUKER PAY WORKING VISIT TO ENCROACHED QUARRY SITES AT ASONOMASO NKWANTA IN KWABRE EAST

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon George Mireku Duker on Thursday, April 10, 2022 paid a working visit to the Kwabre East of the Ashanti Region to inspect some encroached quarry sites.

The visit was to afford the Hon. Deputy Minister an opportunity to familiarize himself with activities at the Asomaso Nkwanta Quarry site in the Kwabre East Municipality and response to some concerns raised by the quarry operators particularly the issue of encroachment. He said persons and organization which have been building or performing activities in the location of granite without recourse to the appropriate authorities will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

According to Hon. Duker, the Assembly should intervene in this regard to make sure people mine with requisite document, it is also important for the Chiefs and the Assembly and stakeholders to realize that, they must as a nation protect the natural resources that we have, and gives enable environment for those who have lawfully secure license to mine, It is important irrespective of pedigreed.

Again Hon Duker said, he has noted that, people are encroaching on concessions that are been mandated by the Minerals Commission. He said the Chief Executive Officer of the area Hon. Opoku Agyemang Bonsu has been tasked to  investigate  the matter further to find out whether the buildings around the concessions have the permits and asked who  gave them those permits or land title.

Furthermore, Hon Duker said there is a need to Educate the public on this matters, it is very important that we do sensitization tour to engage the communities for them to understand why they should be away from these concessions. Because you cannot mine stones without blasting. Blasting we are talking of explosive and Apiate incidence must be a guide to all of us that is why per the law, it gives not less than 500 meter buffer. Let us continue to engage and understand that yes stone is equally important as gold and we need to protect it.

Speaking to Journalist at the end of his tour, Hon. Duker indicated that  exercises has brought to the force certain challenges in the industry that need immediate attention, He mentioned that the minerals commission will urgently investigate  the issues of encroachment and take necessary steps to protect the quarry concession nationwide.

Accordingly, Hon. Opoku Agyemang Bonsu (MCE) made it known the importance of us protecting our natural resources. Again, he emphasized on some projects that can be made through this natural resource. “We are all yearning for development projects but how can we do it without our stones. If you encroach, how do we get them, the Assembly wants to build schools and you encroach how do we resolve that, where are they going to get the stones? Hon. MCE asked. In conclusion, Hon. MCE advised the gathering that we should come together as an association and a country to protect and prevent encroachment on these concessions.