Nabdam youth on rampage...injures expatriates, destroys property

Shaanxi Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Gold Resources Group Company Limited, is to construct a bridge at Gbane in the Talensi Nabdam District, in the Upper East Region.

The Bridge when completed would facilitate socio-economic activities in the area.

However, a sod cutting ceremony that was supposed to have come off on Wednesday, for the project to commence, was disrupted by a demonstration by some youth from the area.

The youth injured four Chinese men, burnt down a drilling machine, belonging to the Chinese Mining Company, seized personal belongings of some Chinese and destroyed canopies and chairs.

It took a combined effort of the Police and the Military to bring the situation under control, and suspects were arrested.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, the Shaanxi Mining Company Councilor, Mr Joseph Kpemkpa, expressed regret at the incident, and said it could scare investors from investing in the area.

He called on Government and stakeholders to intervene to stop such negative practices from occurring.

Mr Kpemkpa said that the company had obtained all the necessary mining and legal documents needed to operate in the district.

He said, although Act 703 of the Mining Law did not allow the company to go into small scale mining, it was giving technical support such as drilling, installation of machines and provision of machines to the ‘Nyeyeya’ and ‘Probortacba’ groups.

Mr. Kpemkpa said the company would complement government’s efforts at bringing development to the people.

The Public Relations Officer of the Mining Company, Mr Maxwell Wooma, debunked the allegation by some people that the construction of the bridge would be to the benefit of the company and not the people.

He said, despite the incident, the company would not relent on its social responsibility to the people, and it would go ahead with the construction of the bridge.**