The Russia and Ukraine nationals arrested Monday for engaging in illegal mining officially requested for military protection under the Mahama administration, the Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia constituency in the Ashanti region, Yaw Frimpong has disclosed.
According to him, this was confirmed to him by the former Defense Minister, Benjamin Kumbuor.
The foreigners engaging in illegal mining activities were arrested in the Ashanti Region.
The foreigners who were operating at a mining firm at Tonkokrom in the Amansie West District were arrested on the orders of the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu.
According to the Minister, they were being protected by some military men.
Commenting on the development on Accra-based Citi FM, the lawmaker said the former Defense Minister admitted to him that the foreigners duly applied for military protection.
“This military thing you are talking about…I have known this close to one and half years. I made inquiries from former Minister of Defense, Benjamin Kumbour and he said they have applied for the protection,” said the Manso Adubia legislator.
“Initially, I did not agree with him but later I found out that well, maybe the government takes some taxes from them so they want to protect them,” he added.
The foreigners are managers of Geo professional Services. The firm is said to have mined 500 acres of land instead of 75 acres originally permitted them by the Minerals Commission at Tontokrom in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region.
The mining company was issued with the “stop work order” by the Inspection Directorate of the Minerals Commission on May 18 but disregarded directives and continued mining.
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