The Minerals Commission has withdrawn a mining application from Active Target Natural Resources Limited to mine on a concession in the Mampong traditional area.

This follows the decision by Mampong Traditional Chiefs to stop mining operations in the area.

The withdrawal of the application was contained in a letter to the Municipal Chief Executive of Mampong on November 24, 2022.

“The application in respect of Active Target Natural Resources Limited has been withdrawn.”

The Minerals Commission had earlier published an Application of Notice with the intention to allow Active Target Natural Resources Limited to mine in the Mampong Traditional area.

However, due to the strong resistance from the Mampong Traditional Council led by the Omanhene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, the Minerals Commission receded its intention.

The Chief Executive of the Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, in the letter copied to the Mamponghene, said “we note that Nananom have voiced their objection to any mineral activities or operations in the Mampong Traditional Area.”

The Traditional Council had earlier maintained that it would not allow any mining activities to take place in the traditional area.

As a result of their position, Nananom at a meeting called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to suspend any plans to give away any land in Mampong for mining operations.

The Mampong Traditional Council consists of Mampong and other towns, including Effiduasi, Jamasi, Ejura, Apaa, Akrofoso and Kyekyewere.

The Traditional area earlier rejected a letter from the Minerals Commission to the Council in 2021 indicating that an area within Mampong was to be given to a company for the mining of gold.

The Mamponghene, in response to the Minerals Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Chief of Staff expressed his strong opposition to mining on his land.

First letter rejected

The Kyirimfasohene, Nana Kwasi Kodua Akuoko II, who is also the Chairman of the Anti-Galamsey Committee in the Mampong Traditional Area, in a speech read on behalf of the Mamponghene, recalled that in 2021, the Minerals Commission wrote a letter to the council indicating that an area within the traditional area was to be given to a company for the mining of gold.

He said the Mamponghene, in a letter he sent to the Minerals Commission and copied to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Chief of Staff expressed his strong opposition to mining on his land.

Decision unchanged

On November 9, 2022, a letter was again received by the Council from the Mineral Commission on the same matter but the emphasis was on surface mining, part of which read “expecting a reply from the Council within twenty-one days”.

However, the Kyirimfasohene, Nana Kwasi Kodua Akuoko II said: “Our decision remains unchanged, Nana Mamponghene and Nananom of the Mampong Traditional Area do not want any mining activities to occur on our land.”

He said the mining activity was to be undertaken close to a river that had been the main source of potable water supply to the Mampong Traditional Area and also the neighbouring towns, including Nsuta and its suburbs.