Accra, June 20, GNA - The Concerned Farmers Association has protested against statements reported to have been made by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines that Newmont would be issued with a permit to mine in the Ajenua Bepo forest reserve by the end of the year. A statement signed by Mr Kwabena Frimpong on behalf of the Association said: "We cannot ignore such a statement of the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines since the statement makes the public consultation of the Environmental Impact Assessment process a mere rubber stamp activity to satisfy a requirement in the granting of Environmental permit for a mining activity in the Ajenua Bepo forest reserve.

"A number of farmers who would be affected by the operations of the Akyem project of Newmont find the statement of the Minister in bad taste, especially when a public forum to seek the concerns of the communities and the public on the Akyem project has been scheduled for July 4 this year." The statement said some community members had, on September 1, 2006 and February 26, 2008 petitioned the government against mining in the Ajenua Bepo forest reserve for which the community did not even have a response from the Minister and government. The statement said issues that would be raised against Newmont's Mining operations had been ignored in advance.