The loss of lives and property in the Talensi mining community of Gbane
in the Upper East Region is set to worsen in the coming days, according
to civil society, as some individuals and groups are plotting “mayhem
through acts of militancy and war”.
Describing the situation as volatile, the Northern Patriots in Research
and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society organization, is calling on
government to intervene.
In a statement released on Monday, NORPRA wants a thorough investigation into the operations of Cassius Mining Limited.
It alleges that the directors of the mining company have criminal records and that is against the laws of Ghana.
It mentioned directors such as Radwin Elhassan, Anthony Upul Samantha,
Anthony Joseph Karam and James Arkoudis as having serious criminal
records.
“In a cross check, NORPRA established that as at 10th May, 2016 these
very names of Australian nationals were the same names that appeared in
official records of the Registrar-General Department of Ghana as
Directors of Cassius Mining Limited.
“Surprisingly, our latest check dated 5th of March, 2019 showed that
some of these names have been replaced as Directors and made
shareholders of Cassius Mining Ltd,” the statement signed by Executive
Director of NORPRA Bismark Adongo Ayorogo said.
NORPRA wants government to find out the extent to which due diligence
was done to register the company and “apply sanctions where necessary to
individuals and organisations who may be found culpable”.
It observes that there has been an ascendancy in crime in the community
and that may be due to the activities of hoodlums in the area.
“NORPRA is by this statement therefore calling on the government to, as a
matter of urgency, probe into the matter and save the mining community
from likely influence of these persons alleged to have been convicted by
courts of competent jurisdiction on crimes of hard drugs and many more
others.”