Gov’t urged to clarify concession issue on Sheini Iron Ore deposit
The Media Advocacy for Sustainable Environment (MASE) has challenged Government to clarify whether the rumour that the Sheini Iron Ore deposit in the Tatale District has been given out as a concession or not.
The group said it appeared Government had given out one of the important, strategic and valuable asserts of the people of the Northern Region without the involvement of the chiefs and people.
Mr Francis Balikawu Npong, Coordinator of MASE, who at a media encounter in Tamale, asked Government to disclose the identity of the company, which was given the concession.
The group also wanted to know who the managers of the company were and how the selection procedure was done if the rumour was true.
Mr Npong called for transparency and adequate consultation with the local people and stakeholders by Government to promote peace and development.
He explained that the extraction of minerals, when handled transparently could generate revenue for the area and country as well as facilitating the development of the various communities.
Mr Npong claimed that information gathered by the group revealed that the ore was discovered in the area in the 1960s and that exploration test had confirmed that the ore was one of the finest and in commercial quantity.
He said: “taking cue from what has happened and currently happening at communities where gold and bauxite were being mined in the south, we are concerned about the wanton destruction of natural vegetation and water bodies, that is why we want a fair deal to avoid such occurrence”.
In another development, Alhaji Inusa Fuseini Minister of Lands and Natural Resource told GNA that the Sheine Iron Ore and another concession in Kyebi together with three others had been given out to a company, which he could not readily recall its name.
“To the best of my knowledge, that concession had already been given to a certain company before I was appointed as a minister to the Ministry,” he explained.
Alhaji Fuseini said it formed part of the national diversification promotion, adding that, the company had commenced studies to find out the quantity of minerals.
Source: GNA