Transeco Minerals And Mining Ltd Not Involved In Reckless Mining…Management Dismisses Claims

The management of Transeco Minerals & Mining Limited, located at Saamang in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, has dismissed allegations of engaging in illegal and irresponsible mining, popularly known as “galamsey.”

A group identifying itself as the Extraction Accountability Project (TEAP) has called for the revocation of Transeco’s mining license, accusing the company of irresponsible mining practices in the area.

Charles McCarthy, the General Secretary of TEAP, claimed that Godwin Nii Armah, Director of Transeco Minerals & Mining Ltd and also General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), has been involved in irresponsible mining activities that have left environmental damage in communities including Nsuapemso, Kyebi Adadientem, and Osino.

According to TEAP, these sites are littered with open pits and have been abandoned without proper reclamation, posing threats to residents, animals, and the environment.

The group has also called for Mr. Nii Armah’s removal from the board of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), accusing him of contributing to environmental degradation.

However, the management of Transeco Minerals & Mining Ltd has described these claims as baseless propaganda targeted at tarnishing the image of their Director.

“If we were engaging in reckless mining, the Minerals Commission wouldn’t regularly bring visitors and students from around the world to our site to observe how we practice environmentally responsible small-scale mining,” stated Nana Kwaku Gyamera Antwi-Awuah, General Manager of Transeco.

He clarified that the company operates only in Saamang, and denied involvement in any mining activities at the locations mentioned by TEAP.

“Godwin Nii Armah is a respected figure in the mining sector and would not do anything that could tarnish the image of the country. We won’t allow anyone to destroy his hard-earned reputation,” Mr. Antwi-Awuah added.

To back their claims, Mr. Antwi-Awuah led a team of journalists, including Kontihen Kofi Oboh, on a tour of the company’s operational sites. The journalists observed that mined areas had been reclaimed and converted into coconut, maize, plantain, and oil palm farms.

“The government recognizes the contributions of our Director [Godwin Armah] to the mining industry, which is why he was appointed to the GOLDBOD to bring his experience to bear to help the sector grow,” he noted.

He further expressed confidence that former President John Dramani Mahama would not be swayed by propaganda intended to discredit Mr. Armah, whose expertise continues to benefit both Ghana and international mining communities.

“The Fanteakwa South District Assembly and our Mother Company Narawa gave us a letter to demarcate some portion of our concession at Osino to the community to do community mining and we gave them 30 acres but later we realized that they were encroaching on another part of our concession and together with the National Security we stopped them because they were not reclaiming the lands after being used,” he revealed.

He called on the government to intensify its fight against illegal mining, describing it as a major threat to legitimate small-scale mining operations in Ghana.

Supporting Transeco’s position, the Senaahene of Saamang, Nana Kwasi Adjaben Boateng, confirmed that Transeco had not engaged in any reckless mining on their land, and noted that, rather, the illegal miners, or ‘galamseyers’, are the one’s destroying lands, forests, and water bodies.

He added that ‘If Transeco were engaging in such acts, they would have banished them from the land as there is a committee that closely monitors their daily operations.

He further highlighted Transeco’s contributions to community development, which include the construction of doctors’ bungalows, a clinic, and other essential social amenities for the Saamang community.

Nana Boateng urged the general public to disregard what he described as orchestrated and false allegations aimed at revoking the company’s mining license.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.