PRESS RELEASE AND REACTION BY TWU (TIMBER AND WOOD-WORKERS UNION) OF TUC ON SHOOTING OF A WORKER AND ALLEGATION BY AKONTA MINING LIMITED.

PRESS RELEASE AND REACTION BY TWU (TIMBER AND WOOD-WORKERS UNION) OF TUC ON SHOOTING OF A WORKER AND ALLEGATION BY AKONTA MINING LIMITED. 

03.10.2022

Our attention has been drawn to statements made by Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Anwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) about Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Limited.

Sadly, these statements came at a time, when the all employees and management of the company were consoling the families and victims of Akonta mining gunshots in the Samreboi community (some of them are workers) and also members of the TWU (Timber and Wood-Workers Union) of TUCThe statements by Chairman Wontumi are a clear indication that he does not understand the Forest laws.Before we react to his statements we want to make it clear that anything we mention here, can be verified from official regulatory bodies like the Forestry commission and Ghana Police.

Firstly, Chairman Wontumi claims, his cars and machines were burnt by Samartex security. On 29th September, 2022, that there was a clash between Akonta Mining employees and some community members. But surprisingly, Akonta mining security personnel in retaliation came to attack Samartex company shooting at our workers bus, our trucks, food vendors, shops and many more in the process, shooting a worker and injuring community members, including the assemblyman being a victim.

This was reported to Samreboi Police by Samartex and while in a meeting with the police, management and security heads of the company concerning this attack by Akonta mining, we heard that two (2) trucks were on fire outside the factory allegedly belonging to Akonta mining. 

How can this then be classified as an attack by Samartex (the police can verify this fact)Secondly, Chairman Wontumi claims his company Akonta mining is not into galamsey. Funny enough his company is nicknamed “Akonta galamsey” in this locality. 

Due to their manner of operations and also due to the fact that they always abscond when there is any operation against galamsey activities.  His style of mining indicates he is into illegal mining whereas the law clearly states that nobody is allowed to mine 100meters into any river or stream body even in the forest. 

Chairman Wontumi’s excavators and washing plants alone cannot be termed as legal mining but galamsey, and we have evidence of galamsey activities being carried out by Akonta miningWe have also heard that there are claims that Samartex is destroying the forests with its operations. 

Let’s do some learning here:Samartex has managed its forest concessions for over 27 years now after AT&P had managed the same forest over 40 years before Samartex but the forest is still intact.  

This is as a result of proper sustainable forest management. We are mandated by law to do selective felling and this is directly supervised by the forestry commission. Samartex has all the timber utilization contracts to work in these concessions, and this can be verified at the Forestry Commission.

 We are mandated by law to return to a compartment (within our forest reserve) we have operated in for 3years only after 30years (felling cycle). The trees taken out by selective felling method, opens up the forest canopy for natural regeneration of smaller trees and growth of trees with less fellable limits, which after 30years would be ready for harvesting. 

If this system of forest management is strictly adhered to like Samartex has been doing, Ghana’s forests will last forever, since trees are renewable resources unlike gold.Samartex, as a responsible company has also subjected its forests and mill operations to third party certification process. 

As a result of this, we have international bodies such as Preferred by Nature (NEPCON) who conduct periodic audit on our forest operations for the purposes of meeting European standards of legality and chain of custody of our products. 

Samartex aside ensuring natural regeneration, is also into plantation across the country. If the company is destroying the forests as claimed, I don’t believe we will still be existing as a company. We serve as a model of sustainable forest management for the country and internationally. All the above mentioned points can be confirmed by the forestry commission.

Also, chairman Wontumi claims Samartex sent him to court and did not send other illegal miners around to court. It must be clarified that we have always fought illegal miners in our operational areas. Within 24hours of getting information of galamsey operations, we are able with the help of forestry commission officials drive these illegal miners out. 

This is the first time a mining company has come out to blatantly tell us that they can mine wherever they choose to, even in forest reserves and river bodies and even blocking Samartex officials and forestry officials from accessing the forest. 2nd person:We are also aware of the cheap propaganda by Akonta mining reps in an attempt to implicate the Managing Director of Samartex and Samartex Company in their shady illegal business. 

We are by this inviting all Ghanaians, civil society groups, the media and all concerned regulatory authorities to visit Samartex to ascertain the truth.We are also aware of their blatant lies and desperate propaganda to save themselves on various radio and TV stations. 

We will indulge all these media houses to ascertain the truth before airing from authorized bodies like, the Ghana Police, Mineral Commission and Traditional Authorities.We have also seen so many false circulations that Samartex is involved in galamsey and helping foreigners to exploit Ghana’s forest through galamsey.

 Edward Okuoko of Akonta mining claims he seized excavators belonging to the Managing Director and HR manager of on Samartex land and that the Regional Minister is aware. All operations on illegal mining in Samreboi area are not Akonta mining actions, this can be verified from the Minister, since Akonta mining is also involved in galamsey.

 This propaganda is so baseless and a clear indication that Akonta mining are desperate to defend their illegal galamsey operations.We are open for all our operations to be televised nationally, for all our concessions to be visited by all national media houses led by Forestry Commission, the only sad view would be illegal galamsey activities in the forest by Akonta mining.

Lastly, we are still awaiting action to be taken by the Police after we reported shooting of our colleague, community members and our vehicles by Akonta mining.Also, the press release by the Ministry of Lands and natural resources, dated 30th September, 2022, clearly states that activities by Akonta mining in the Tano Nimre Forest are illegal. With the extent of damage, caused by an illegal operation, we are waiting to see the repercussion of such an act to the perpetuators.

We would plead with the IGP to investigate all the above mentioned facts.We believe that the law works in Ghana, we believe that our leaders whom we voted into power will do the right thing; the world is watching Ghana at this point.Until then, we are here still praying for our brothers who were victims of the 29th September, 2022 shootings by Akonta Mining. May God grant them speedy recovery.