By
Godwill Arthur- Mensah, GNA
Nsuta (WR), July 20, GNA – The Minister of
Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, has expressed displeasure
over the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC)’s non-involvement of the Government in
pricing manganese ore being sold to a firm in China for processing.
He said the GMC engaged in an affiliate
transaction with a sister firm without the consent of government and believed
the nation was being short-changed in terms of payment of taxes and royalties.
He, therefore, directed the management of GMC
to furnish the Minerals Commission with details about the prices the ore was
being sold since government had 10 percent stake in the firm.
Mr Amewu gave the directive when he led a
delegation from the Ministry, Minerals Commission and Minerals Development Fund
to Nsuta in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, to
familiarise himself about the operations of the GMC on Friday.
He urged the Company to establish a mining
refinery in Ghana to process manganese ore locally to add value to the raw
material.
The Minister was unhappy with the performance
of the firm regarding compliance with the local content laws and Contract
Agreement it signed with the government.
He warned that the government might not renew
the firm’s mining lease licence if it continued flouting the Contract
Agreement.
Mr Benjamin Ato Quarshie, the Chief Operations
Officer for GMC, assured the government of complying with the directives and do
the right thing as spelt out in Contract Agreement.
He also pledged to support the government to
rehabilitate Tarkwa-Agona-Nkwanta road, which had deteriorated due to hauling
of manganese to the Takoradi Port.
Mr Gilbert Ken Asmah, the Municipal Chief
Executive for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, appealed to the GMC to rehabilitate the road from
the Company’s site to Tarkwa Junction.
He also asked the firm its promise to employ
indigenes in its operations since some disgruntled local folks were planning to
demonstrate against the Company.
GMC owned 90 percent while government of Ghana
has 10 percent share in the firm.
It produced about two million tonnes of
manganese every year and intends to produce 4.8 million tonnes this year.
GNA