Lands and Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu has revoked the mining license of Exton Cubic Group limited for its failure to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
Addressing the media at a press conference Monday, he said such statutory infractions renders the leases granted to the mining company invalid and of no effect.Â
According to the Minister, the failure to obtain the necessary environmental and operational permits violates the Minerals and Mining Act , 703.
"The absence of publication of Gazzette of notice of the tendency of the company's application and service of notice of various entities specified in the law is contrary to both section 13 subsection 2 of act 703 and regulation 177 of (Li) 21(76)"
"..... in light of the circumstances above and in accordance to section 87 of act 703, the three mining leases are hearby revoked, Mr Amewu stated.
However, Exton Group in a statement last week denied any wrong doing saying it went through all laid down procedures required by the laws of the country.
It said the mining lease for the Nyinahini Bauxite concession was duly granted by the Lands Ministry on the 29th of December 2016 and was subsequently registered at the lands commission on the 9th of January 2017.
Background
Exton Cubic Group Limited was granted leases to mine bauxite at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region but breaches in its initial permit led to the suspension of its operations by EPA.
The EPA in a statement last Wednesday stated that Exton Cubic Group Limited had not obtained the required EPA permit under its mining lease and therefore its attempt to enter the area for mining activity was illegal.
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