CPP fights off Adamus over mining at Nkrumah's birth place

The Convention People's Party (CPP) is fighting off Adamus Mining Resources from mining at Nkroful, the birth place of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's Founder and First President.

It has been reported that the chief and people of Nkroful in the Western Region are up in arms against attempts to relocate them for an Australian Mining firm registered as Adamus Mining Company Limited, to start its commercial activities.

It is “an attack on our heritage”, Director of Communication, Nii Armah Akomfrah fumed in a press statement.

He said the party was “outraged by the lack of political will” and “failure” by the government to protect the heritage site located in the Ellembelle District of the Nzema from exploitation.

The statement said that investment in the tourism potential of the area was a more sustainable use of the land and not the destruction by “a private quest to exploit the mineral resources of the area”.

The party also pledged an “unflinching support” to community dwellers in Teleku Bokazo and Nkroful, and a youth group known as Youth and Concern.

“They have demonstrated their unwavering fight against the attempt by Adamus Resources to virtually obliterate Nkroful”, it said.

Nii Akomfrah rejected claims about resettlement and monetary compensation by Adamus to some members of the two close communities. It could never replace the capacity of the State to develop the human and material capacity of Nkroful, he asserted.

Referring to Sections (2) and (4)of the Minerals & Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), the CPP urged President Mahama to immediately and compulsorily acquire all of Nkroful Land, as a first step towards designating Nkroful as a national heritage site.

The Sections read: “Compulsory acquisition and land

2. Where land is required to secure the development or utilization of a mineral resource, the President may acquire the land or authorize its occupation and use under an applicable enactment for the time being in force.

Minister may reserve land from mining 4.(1) The Minister may, by Executive Instrument declared land, not being the subject of a mineral right, to be reserved from, (a) becoming the subject of an application for a mineral right for a mineral, or (b)becoming the subject of an application for a mineral right in respect of specified minerals or of all minerals except specified minerals. (2) An Executive Instrument issued shall be by the authority of the President”.