Traditional leaders of Tano-Offin have accused the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) of opaqueness in its operations and plans as far as the mining of bauxite in the Nyinahin forest reserve in the Ashanti Region is concerned.

In a statement of protest jointly signed by Nana Tabbri Gyansa III, Mpasaso Omanhene (No1); Nana Kusi Amankwaa Marfo II, Nkawie Paninhene; and Nana Apofo Twumasi III, Mpasaso No11hene, the angry traditional leaders said: “In principle, we are not against the mining of the bauxite” but noted that the “steps taken so far by GIADEC have not been transparent”, adding: “This has further left us in the dark. Our only source of information has been the media”.

The chiefs, in a statement copied to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President; the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy; and the Board Chairman of GIADEC, have made seven demands of GIADEC and the government, and threatened to frustrate the mining of bauxite in the area if they are not listened to.

Apart from demanding that the project name, ‘Nyinahin bauxite’ be changed to represent all the communities within the bauxite enclave, the chiefs also said since Tano-Offin holds 70 per cent of the bauxite deposits, “We, therefore, strongly call for inclusion of our respective representatives on the board as a matter of urgency”.

Furthermore, the chiefs say they “strongly call for the position of the chief executive officer of GIADEC to be preserved for people from Tano-Offin area since we hold 70% of the bauxite deposits” and also demanded that one of the four concessions is “to be unconditionally reserved for us to buy”.

Read the full statement below:

PROTEST AGAINST OPAQUE PLANS OF THE GHANA INTEGRATED ALUMINIUM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO MINE BAUXITE IN THE TANO-OFFIN FOREST RESERVE.

We the traditional leaders in the Tano-Offin Forest Reserve, on behalf of ourselves, and our subjects, whose interest we uphold, write to express our deep displeasure and further protest against Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation’s (GIADEC) current arrangements to mine the bauxite deposit in the aforementioned forest reserve. In principle, we are not against the mining of the bauxite. However, steps taken so far by GIADEC have not been transparent. This has further left us in the dark. Our only source of information has been the media.

We, therefore, call on the government, to, as a matter of urgency, address our concerns before the mining can start.

One, the name ‘Nyinahin bauxite’, we think does not portray representativeness of ownership as far as other affected communities are concerned. This has resulted in a perceived monopolistic ownership by a section of the people. We, therefore, call for the change of name in consultation with the traditional authorities in the area as soon as possible.

Two, the government constituted the governing board of Ghana Integrated Aluminium Corporation without consulting any of us. Eventually, only one person was selected to represent all of us on the board. This has left us in the dark and are not preview to any information about the government programmes toward the exploitation of the bauxite, meanwhile, we have 70% of the total bauxite deposit in the country. We, therefore, strongly call for inclusion of our respective representatives on the board as a matter of urgency.

Three, we strongly call for the position of the chief executive officer of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Corporation to be preserved for people from Tano-Offin area since we hold 70% of the bauxite deposits.

Four, Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation has grouped the bauxite deposits into four concession areas for sale with the Nyinahin area having two concessions. We strongly call for one concession to be unconditionally reserved for us to buy.

Five, in the 2017 budget statement, the government made its intention to build a refinery at Kyebi clear at section 881. Also, in the 2020 budget, the government did state that it will build two refineries and one smelter but no location was mentioned, which implies that the 2017 statement is still valid. We strongly state that one refinery should be built at Mpasaso and the smelter located at Nkawie Panin, both in Ashanti Region where 70% of Ghana’s bauxite deposits is found.

Six, during the second investor engagement, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation stated that investors will be permitted to mine and export bauxite in its raw state for the first three years after which the country will start refining bauxite on condition that a refinery is built. We are strongly calling for the refinery to be built before mining of bauxite commences.

Seven, Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation has also suggested two modes of transporting the bauxite; roads and rails. We will vehemently resist any attempt by the government to transport raw or refined bauxite on our roads. The government must, therefore, ensure that the railway is ready to transport the bauxite before mining commences.

In conclusion, we want to state that GIADEC’s plans and actions to mine bauxite in our area have been full of deceit and misleading. We, therefore, give the government ten days to respond to our demands. Should the government pay death ears to our demands, we shall demonstrate and send petitions to all embassies in Ghana. Also, any company that will enter into the forest to mine bauxite shall fiercely be resisted and mining activities currently going on in the forest must stop immediately.