A seven-member committee has been set up by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu to look into the operations of Granite and Marble Limited, a private company working in the Tongo Traditional Area.

The terms of reference of the committee include, determining whether the company has a concession to operate in the area, whether it is operating within the approved concession, and whether it is operating according to government's guidelines on mining. It will also look into any other matters that can promote

and sustain peace in the Tongo area.The committee, which has the Regional Police Commander Mr Paul Quaye as its chairman, has one week to present its report.

Other members are representatives of the Minerals Commission, the Survey Department, Town and Country Planning, Land Valuation Board and Environmental Protection Agency.

The establishment of the committee was as a result of a petition against the company by the Tindana and people of Teng-Zuik neat Tongo, who accuse it of illegal exploitation of stones in the area.

Mr Salifu said he believes in resolving conflicts through arbitration and urged the people of Tongo to co-operate to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Present was Tongo-Rana Kwaran Tii, Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area.

The Granite and Marble Company, which exports chipped stone to Europe, has been operating in the Tongo area since 1994.