“Show Us The Projects” …Adansehene Chases Gov’t Over Mineral Royalties

The Omanhene of Adanse Traditional Area, Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II, is demanding a full account for the mineral royalties paid to the government of Ghana for the development of mining communities by mining companies.

He wants the government to point to specific projects funded and completed in mining communities using proceeds from the mineral royalties.

Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the “10 Year Development Plan” for mining communities in the Adanse Traditional Area by the AngloGold Ashanti on Thursday 7th July 2022 held at Obuasi.

The Chief expressed concerns about the unfortunate situation of mining communities in the country. He is worried that despite the exploitation of mineral resources extracted from mining communities, they are abandoned and left poor as income from the minerals they produce is used to develop other areas.

He applauded AngloGold Ashanti for the carefully planned strategy to develop the Obuasi community in the next 10 years. He pleaded with the management of the project to implement the plan as proposed to help improve the living conditions of the people of Adanse.

In a direct response to the Chief, Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, said the royalties are no longer paid to the local Assemblies but to a fund managed by the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

He indicated that the MIIF is mandated to render accounts which they have been doing annually and pledged to get a copy of their financial and expenditure statement for the Chief.

Source: Opemsuo.com/ Kwabena Kyeremateng Addo