Mr. Bismark Zumah, Assemblyman for Gbane and 11 youth leaders have been arrested for organising a mob who disrupted a programme and molested people attending a function at Gbane near Tongo in the Talensi District.

The young men burnt down a drilling machine worth 100,000 dollars belonging to Shaanxi Mining Company Limited, a Chinese mining company and injured four Chinese employees of the company last Wednesday during a function organised by the company to launch a bridge that will link Gbane to other parts of the District in the Upper East Region.

The Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Kin Gyinae, who briefed journalists about the incident, described it as “unfortunate”.

He said investigations were on-going while armed police team had been deployed to the area to bring the situation to normalcy and protect the Chinese firm from intimidation.

Mrs. Lucy Awuni, Deputy Regional Minister, who visited the company to assess the extent of damage to the machine, assured the Chinese of maximum security and protection in their operations.

She expressed disgust at the behaviour of the youth, explaining that the project was being undertaken by the company for their own benefit.

Mrs. Awuni called on the employees of the company to remain calm and go about their operations without fear.

Mr. Wei Xin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company who spoke through an interpreter expressed appreciation to the police for their continuous protection, and explained that the company had sort the needed mining legal requirement to operate in the area.

He said before starting operations, the company held discussions with the Presidency, Minerals Commission, Regional Minister, District Chief Executive, traditional rulers, the community and other stakeholders involved in the operations of the corporate entity.

Mr. Wei pledge the commitment of his company to undertake the construction of the bridge next week as part of its social responsibility since the chiefs and people had expressed keen interest in the project.

The CEO said plans are under way for the construction of a technical school to train the youth in mining so that they could be gainfully engaged, adding that some Chinese professionals would be in the country soon to facilitate the process.

Shaanxi Mining Company Limited is a subsidiary of China Gold Resources Group Company Limited.

The youth of Gbane had for the past two months been protesting against the presence of the company, complaining that it had occupied their land.**