Talensi youth petition Mahama over Nalaamtaaba-Earl International mining dispute

Aggrieved youth in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in a protracted mining dispute between locally owned Nalaamtaaba Enterprise and Chinese-owned Earl International Gold Ghana Limited.

The youth, who staged a protest through the principal streets of Bolgatanga, say the impasse has deprived hundreds of people of their livelihoods and are demanding urgent government intervention to allow mining activities at the Nalaamtaaba concession to resume.

They were joined by legal practitioner and activist, Martin Kpebu, who led the youth to present the petition to the President through the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.

In the petition, Mr Kpebu called on President Mahama to ensure that the police enforce a court order permitting Nalaamtaaba Enterprise to continue its mining operations while the substantive dispute is determined.

“We wish to respectfully petition President John Dramani Mahama to intervene to help the police to completely and effectively police the Nalaamtaaba concession so as to allow the leaders and the workers of Nalaamtaaba to continue their lawful mining activities,” he said.

He stated that the High Court, in a ruling on the dispute involving Nalaamtaaba Enterprise, Shaanxi and the Minerals Commission, had indicated that the company could continue working while the court undertook further investigations before arriving at a final determination.

Mr Kpebu alleged that some individuals and forces had frustrated efforts to enforce the court order, despite the Inspector-General of Police and his legal team having reviewed the order and given the go-ahead for its implementation.

“Even after the IGP and his legal team had looked at the order and had given the go-ahead for police to implement the same. So it is appropriate that we draw His Excellency's attention to this problem,” he said.

According to him, Nalaamtaaba Enterprise provides direct and indirect employment to more than 1,000 people in Talensi, making the suspension of its operations a major economic concern for the district.

The private legal practitioner warned that the prolonged interruption of mining activities was worsening unemployment and placing considerable pressure on families who depend on the concession for their livelihoods.

Mr Kpebu described unemployment as a national security concern and urged the authorities to address the situation to prevent further hardship among the youth.

“We all know that unemployment is a national security threat. This man provides work for 1,000 of the youth of Talensi. So the current situation where the youth cannot return to work is creating a case of unemployment,” he said.

The petitioners also raised concerns about the arrest and continued detention of Nalaamtaaba Enterprise Chief Executive Officer, Boya Kolukpolo, and some members of his team.

Mr Kpebu appealed for the company's CEO to be granted bail to enable him to return and oversee the operations.

“As we speak now, the leader of Nalaamtaaba is in Police custody. We have prayed that he will be admitted to bail very soon, quickly, so that he can come back to resume the saddle so that the work can continue more efficiently,” he added.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director commended the demonstrators for conducting themselves peacefully.

“We have heard that today during your demonstration, you were very peaceful throughout from beginning to end,” he said.

He assured the petitioners that the document would be forwarded to President Mahama promptly upon the Regional Minister's return from an engagement relating to the mining industry.

The youth say they are awaiting a response from the Presidency, insisting that a resolution of the dispute is critical to restoring mining activities and livelihoods in the Talensi District.