Ministry orders temporary closure of Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has ordered the temporary closure of the Shaanxi Mining Company after seven small scale miners died from allegedly inhaling toxic fumes from an underground blast.
The company which is managed by both Ghanaian and Chinese interests has its fields at Gbane, in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, where last month it was alleged the fumes emerged.
The company has been providing mining support services to the Pubuotaba and Yenyeya Small Scale Mining Groups since 2010 and has engaged a 552 workforce.
Addressing a press conference during the announcement of the directive from the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry by the Management of the Shaanxi Company to the workers on Thursday, the Human Resource Manager, Mr Joseph Anokye, called on the Sector Ministry to expedite action to enable the workers return to work on time.
The affected workers also appealed to the sector Ministry to quicken its investigations into the matter adding that it would be difficult to fend for themselves and their families if the Ministry delayed in its actions.
Mr Thomas Tii, the Safety and Mining Engineer of the company, attributed the unsafe measures employed by the small scale miners to the cause of the problem, and explained that many small scale miners have invaded the concessions of the company to steal gold and ore.
Meanwhile in an earlier press conference held at the Sheaga community, the spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens Group, Mr Charles Boazor, called on the Minerals Commission, government and the security agencies to immediately halt the operations of Shaanxi Mining Company accusing it of engaging in illegalities.
In responding to the Concerned Citizens Group earlier on their press conference, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Maxwell Wooma, explained that the company was granted permission by the Land and Natural Resources Ministry and the other mining regulatory bodies before coming into being.
He said the company honours its tax obligations, pays Social Security contributions of its workers and renders a number of corporate social responsibilities including the construction of a school block, a bridge, the provision of ten boreholes, bags of cement for school projects as well supporting the celebration of the farmers’ day annually.
He said it is untrue the allegation that his outfit is doing nothing to support the communities.
“The company is operating with the support service license and supervised by the Minerals Commission and the schedule time for blasting between 10:00 pm to 12:00 am has always been announced”, the Public Relations Officer said.
Mr Rockson Akugre, the lawyer for the Company, said the company’s claims that it has been granted permission to mine by showing to the media documents obtained from the Inspectorate Division of the Mining and Mineral Commission including payment vouchers of Social Security, and Ghana Revenue Authority contributions.
Source: GNA