Committee on limestone deposits at Odumblase presents report

Koforidua, Nov. 29, GNA - Mr Yaw Barimah, Eastern Regional Minister on Tuesday appealed to the two Paramountcies in Krobo feuding over the ownership of limestone deposits at Odumblase to cooperate with Government to solve the problem.

He said the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council (ERCC) was taking pre-emptive measures to ensure an objective and a permanent solution to the problem to prevent costly litigations and resultant economic set backs that were likely to ensue if the case was to end in the courts.

Mr Barimah made the appeal when he received the report of a committee established to investigate the issue in August 2005. The five-member committee was chaired by Mr Kwesi Sarkoman Opoku, Registrar of Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, with a representative each from the Attorney-General's Department, Survey Department, ERRCC and Department of Planning.

Details of the findings would be released alongside a white paper soon. Manya and Yilo Kr obo Paramountcies are contesting ownership of the rich limestone deposits now serving as a raw material base for GHACEM a leading cement manufacturing company in Ghana. Mr Barimah called for tolerance and avoidance of acts that were likely to breach peace in the area.

He said the ERCC had confidence in the committee therefore, 93It would make no attempt to view the report in favour of anyone but the facts as presented.=94

Mr Emmanuel Essampong, Assistant State Attorney and Member of the committee, said they held five consecutive meetings with the two traditional councils, officials of Manya and Yilo Krobo District Assemblies and toured the disputed site.

At the meeting for the presentation of the report were, Nene Dawutey Ologo, President and Konor of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sasraku, Acting President of Manya Krobo Traditional Council, Nana Korlekwor Adjado, Queenmother of Yilo Krobo, Mr Adu Teye Tawiah, Yilo Krobo District Chief Executive and Mr David Sackitey Asare, Manya Krobo District Chief Executive, and Mr S.A. Manu Eastern Regional Coordinating Director.