Coalition joins anti-Shaanxi picketers over “dangerous mining”

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The “Coalition of Pressure Groups against Dangerous Mining and Wrongful Occupancy of Farmlands” has declared its support for the Leaders of Gbane for Peace and Development (LOGPED) on the impeding picketing of the premises of the Shaanxi Mining Company Ltd in the Upper East Region.

The declaration, contained in a press statement, is a major boost to LOGPED which is said to have already massed hundreds of people in Talensi, a district in the region, to take part in the planned picketing at Gbane from Friday January 10, 2020, to Tuesday March 10, 2020.

LOGPED is staging the “peaceful protest” in strong demand for the return of a parcel of land reportedly leased to Shaanxi in 2013. The demand for the mineral-rich piece of land, said to be several acres in size and valued at several millions of Ghana cedis, is among a number of requests LOGPED is making over an alleged breach of a memorandum of understanding by the Chinese-owned mining company.

“We will join in the picketing which is scheduled to run between 10th January, 2020 and 10th March, 2020, unabated in and around the farmlands wrongfully occupied by the Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd to demand the safety of all workers, the stoppage of the killing of innocent miners and the return of the farmlands of the people.

“We also demand adequate compensation for all farm owners on the leased land, compensation for deceased relatives as well as maimed workers who are not at post because of their disabilities and proof of social responsibilities which managers of the Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd have been touting as having carried out in Gbane and Talenteng as a whole,” said the coalition’s statement.

Below is a copy of the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

Coalition of pressure groups against dangerous mining in talenteng

27 December, 2019.

Petition by Coalition of Pressure Groups against Dangerous Mining and Wrongful Occupancy of Farmlands

Following the petition by the Leaders of Gbane for Peace and Development dated 16th December, 2019, addressed to the Upper East Regional Minister, the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, complaining about the unsafe mining practices by the Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd, the rampant deaths of workers referred to as industrial accidents and the wrongful occupancy of farmlands belonging to the people, we the members of the Coalition of Pressure Groups against Dangerous Mining and Wrongful Occupancy of Farmlands align ourselves to the position of the Leaders of Gbane for Peace and Development.

In view of the above, the coalition’s groups namely the Concerned Citizens of Talenteng (CCT), the National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption (NAPAIC), the Patriotic Miners of Talenteng (PMT) and the Leaders of Gbane for Peace and Development (LOGPED) wish to announce our resolution to be part of all the issues raised by our member group LOGPED.

We will join in the picketing which is scheduled to run between 10th January, 2020 and 10th March, 2020, unabated in and around the farmlands wrongfully occupied by the Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd to demand the safety of all workers, the stoppage of the killing of innocent miners and the return of the farmlands of the people.

We also demand adequate compensation for all farm owners on the leased land, compensation for deceased relatives as well as maimed workers who are not at post because of their disabilities and proof of social responsibilities which managers of the Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd have been touting as having carried out in Gbane and Talenteng as a whole.

The security agencies i.e. the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) in the Talensi District and in the Upper East Region have been notified of the impending action via a letter dated 18th December, 2019.

Conveners:

1. Concerned Citizens of Talenteng (CCT)

Samuel Sapaak

(0244457491)

1. National Patriots against Injustice and Corruption (NAPAIC)

Rev. Bismark Zumah

(0247802033)

1. Patriotic Miners of Talenteng (PMT)

Kwabena Samari Walter

(0246102310)

1. Leaders of Gbane for Peace and Development (LOGPED)

……………………………………………

Tii-roug Z. Yaro John

(0244242748)

CC:

1. All Media Houses
2. The Regional Minister, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga.
3. The Regional Police Commander, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga.
4. The District Police Commander, Talensi District, Tongo.
5. The Minister, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Accra.
6. The Regional Commander, BNI, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga.
7. The Commander, BNI, Tongo.
8. The President, Regional House of Chiefs, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga.
9. The Minerals Commission
10. The Shaanxi Mining Support Service Company Ltd
11. The National Peace Council, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga.

Source: Daily Mail GH