Kumasi, April 7, GNA-The Minerals Commission has terminated the licences of four mining companies operating in the Amansie West district of Ashanti for failing to put in application for the renewal of their licences, which expired on January 18, 2005.

They are the Kaasmil Mining Company, KAAS Mining Company, K. Afriyie and Sons Precious Metal Company and King Solomon Mining Company. This was contained in separate letters signed by Mr Martin Ayisi, legal officer with copies to the Minister of Mines, the Chief Inspector of Mines, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Amansie West District Assembly and the District Officer of Small-Scale Mining Project at Dunkwa-On-Offin.

The letter dated January 28, said their rights therefore, in respect of the licence areas have been terminated and reverted to government as owner of all minerals in the country. It said, it was incumbent, therefore, for all the companies to vacate the licence areas within 60 days from the date of the letter after taking steps to remove all installations and structures erected thereon.

They are also expected to make good any damage it may have caused to the land by their operations within the areas of their operations. The letter said, "The notice is without prejudice to any liabilities or obligations which the companies may have incurred in respect of the licence areas during the period of their operations".

Nana Kwadwo Tonto II, the chief of Tontokrom, in a reaction to a publication in a section of the media said all that Mr J.K. Afriyie, Managing Director of KAAS Mining Company said that the company will resume operations this year is never true.

The chief said the owners of the mining companies know that their licences have expired and are finding ways to come back through dubious means.

Nana Tonto said the people of Tontokrom are a peace loving people or else the inhuman treatment and all kinds of anti-social acts that KAAS Mining group and others have meted out to the people for the past 15 years would have resulted in a different story. He expressed his gratitude to the government for responding positively to the petitions they made to the Commission and coming to the aid of the people.