Stephen Yeboah, former District Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region, has said the youth of Nyinahini who have petitioned the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, against granting a mining lease to Exton Cubic Group Limited – the company using equipment belonging to Engineers and Planners (E&P) to operate – will regret their actions.

According to him, the company that they are up against is duly licensed to operate and is also creating employment opportunities for the youth, therefore, it will be pointless for any group to rise against that company.

The locals are refusing to let the company mine bauxite in the Tano Forest Reserve without their consent.

Their action follows the seizure of equipment and mining logistics by Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, who has since refused to release the equipment until Exton Cubic Group produces documents proving they have been licensed to mine bauxite in the area.

But speaking in an interview with Accra 100.5FM’s Chef Jerry Forson on Wednesday, August 23, Mr Yeboah said: “Any level-headed person will know that the agitation against the company is being motivated by some unseen hands.

“The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has spoken and confirmed that the company has the license to operate and so why will anybody want rise against this company that is creating jobs for the youth in the area?”

He added: “We should put our political affiliations and persuasions somewhere and look at the issue dispassionately. Posterity will judge us because those youth who are agitating could be employed by the company.”