Accra, Feb. 10, GNA - Government has been asked to revoke the permit of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) to operate in Ajenua Bepo Forest Reserve. Youth for Action Ghana (YFAG), a non-governmental organisation, engaged in advocacy in mining communities, made the call at a media briefing in Accra on Wednesday.

Mr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr., Executive Director of YFAG, said: "Granting permit to Newmont to operate in the reserve would result in the loss of livelihood and displacement of many people, cause environmental degradation as well as the destruction of royal cemeteries which served as the culture and heritage of the people in the area".

He said the assertion by government and management of Newmont to replace the degraded forest after its operations through the Business and Biodiversity Offsets programme could not be possible since the project had not been tested and proven effective and efficient. The programme is an international partnership programme designed by some 40 leading conservation organizations, companies, governments, and financial institutions developing, testing and implementing best practice on biodiversity offsets.

The reserve located in the Akyem Kotoku area in the Eastern Region is believed to have about nine million ounces of gold deposits.