Revocation of Northern Ashanti’s lease was harsh – Asanda Farmers to gov’t

The Asanda Farmers Association has waded into the raging controversy surrounding the revocation of the mining lease of Northern Ashanti Mines, describing the move by the Minerals Commission as harsh.

In an interview with pressmen on Tuesday, November 3, the Secretary of the Asanda Farmers Association, Mr. Emmanuel Aidoo, expressed worry over Minerals Commissions’ actions in revoking licences of some indigenous mines.

Mr. Aidoo maintained that dialogue should be the priority of the Minerals Commission instead of revoking licences, adding that the government stands to benefit when the company is in operation rather than shutting it down.

"Granted, Northern Ashanti Mines owes $8.3 billion, as they claim. How do they recover that money if the company is shut down? Rather, you guide them to do the right thing so they generate enough to pay the debt. That should be the best way to go not revocation," Mr. Aidoo emphasised.

“As it stands now there should be discussions between the government and Northern Ashanti Mines so that if there are loopholes with regard to the operation of the mines, then you can ask her to put things in the right direction," the secretary of the association stressed.

“But for you to suddenly revoke the licence, I don’t think it is fair to a woman who has employed many Ghanaians across her mining companies and respected beyond the borders of Ghana," he added.

Asked how the revocation concerns the farmer group, Mr. Aidoo explained that they are a beneficiary of the operations of the mining company, as some of their children were employed by the firm.

He warned that revocation of the licences of indigenous mining companies could spell doom for the country, urging the government to see the huge redundancy as a national security issue.

Mr. Aidoo is therefore appealing to the government to intervene and grant reprieve to Northern Ashanti Mines just as it did to Adamus and guide the company to work viably.