John Paul Danka, a leading Member of the Communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, is of the view that indigenes of the Talensi District and that of the entire region must not be kicked out completely in the mining industry.
According to him, efforts must be intensified and streamlined to ensure residents have a stake in mining activities in the district whether large or small-scale.
In his view, insisting on the involvement of locals in the mining activities in the area will go a long way to ensure the retention of profit in the business since many large-scale mining companies are foreign owned and only end up increasing capital flight which equally has a bearing on the stability of the local currency.
His comments come against the heels of raging controversy over the decision of the Minerals Commission to deblock an area previously occupied by small-scale miners in Gbane for large-scale mining and further granting license to Earl International Group (Ghana) Gold Limited to engage in large-scale mining which includes the concession of Yenyeya and Pubotaaba that Shaanxi previously provided mine support service to.
There has since been a tag -of- war between Earl Group and Yenyeya Mining Company Limited with Yenyeya dragging the issue to court over unfavorable take-over terms but has since agreed on an out of court settlement.
Speaking on News Digest on Dreamz Fm, Mr. Danka noted that mining has contributed in the improvement of the lives of indigenes and is therefore demanding that favorable terms be given to indigenes in the sector whether small or large-scale.
“Let me say categorically that no one is against large scale mining in Talensi as a citizen of Talensi. My point has always been that, there would be the need for us to be found in the value chain equation. If not majority but an appreciable number of citizens taking part and having a stake. It would help modernize, increase and modify the local economy as compared to, if we sit and allow outsiders to have all the stakes. What would happen is that, there would be capital flight and we all know how the small-scale mining has benefited the people of the area tremendously”.
He added stating “I blame Yenyeya and Pubotaaba for being too diplomatic because they did not need to wait for minerals commission to write revoking their mine support license. Ab initio, Yenyeya and Pubotaaba after falling out, should have written dismissing Shaanxi”. He stated.
